The Other Wife

The Other Wife is incredible! Following Suzi, Nora and Elle with each chapter starting from their points of view it can be a little difficult to begin but once I’d learnt a little about each character and their stories I was hooked! There’s a few twists but the one at 75% through absolutely blew my mind! Wow, what a plot!
You have to pick this up, the suspense is ever building and it’s one hell of a great story,
5/5

Suzi and Nora are new neighbors and Suzi is so glad to finally have someone close by to talk to. She’s pregnant and her husband is a jealous control freak. Of course, Suzi isn’t perfect either, she’s done some things she’s not proud of, and now that she has a new friend, she’s tempted to confide in her. And that could be a deadly mistake. Then there’s Elle, living a perfect life, at least on the surface. The truth is that her husband has cheated on her, but she’s worked hard to have the perfect life and doesn’t plan on giving it up, no matter what she has to do, no matter who she has to hurt.

Suzi lives a lonely life in a desolate countryside home with her husband Nick. When Nora moves into the abandoned neighboring house, Suzi quickly befriends her, happy to have company and a friend to talk with. What Suzi doesn’t know is that Nora is the wife of her lover who moved to the abandoned home for revenge.

Secrets, lies, affairs, murder, and gaslighting-this book has it all. A quick and suspenseful read that kept me guessing how their lives would intertwine.

I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this one because this kind of domestic thriller is exactly my thing. But the writing and the pacing could not suck me in, entertain me, or distract me. And that is exactly what I’m looking for in a domestic thriller. Barely enjoyable

A Brilliant Winner! One of the best books I have read this year!

Along with the main characters - Elle, Nora and Suzi is a plot designed to dazzle!

Nick, Suzi's controlling husband, has her basically imprisoned (and pregnant) in their home in the country. A neighbor, Nora, moves in and befriends Suzi. This is when the action really begins!

We see three personalities and their drive to get what they want - not to mention what they've already had!

HIGHLY recommend! Well developed characters, lots of plot action, suspense, and plenty of drama.

Many Thanks to Amazon Publishers, UK and NetGalley for a superb read!

Fabulous premise for a domestic thriller teeming with all those glorious tropes of greed, infidelity, ghosting, gaslighting, imprisonment, revenge, and a nod to the classic 'dead bunny'! It was an excellent story but my enjoyment was tempered at times. The story was constructed in such a way that the foreshadowing was elongated to the point that the denouement for each part fizzled rather than a 'Oh crap! I dropped my Kindle!' moment. The Suzi/Nora/Elle storyline folded neatly together rather quickly. Although still a worthy read, with a pared-down narrative, this novel would have been an exceptional heart-stopper! 3.5-4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher , and Claire McGowan for an ARC of 'The Other Wife' in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Other Wife.

The Other Wife is a stereotypical domestic thriller filled with adultering, secrets, family drama and unreliable narrators.

Nora, recently widowed, has moved into a cottage near an expectant mother-to-be, Suzie.

Suzie is under siege. She is carrying the baby of an old lover, and trapped in an isolated house with a manipulative husband, Nick, who monitors and watches her every move.

Nora has secrets. Suzie has secrets. And Nick is your typical douche bag.

There is decent character development but its difficult to like anyone, especially Suzie, who sounds and acts like a wishy- washy twit.

I'm still not sure why she married Nick, even though she mentions how they met and their wedding.

Nora is a dark horse. At first, she sounded like your typical scorned woman, out for revenge.

But, something changes when she probes into the death of her husband. As her investigation reveals many twists and turns (most which I guessed), her target for revenge shifts and her demeanor toward Suzie is irrevocably altered.

What began as a domestic thriller ends as a revenge tale, and I love revenge stories.

My thanks to #netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for allowing me to read the arc of The Other Wife by Claire McGowan. This is a very suspenseful domestic thriller. It has lies, Murder, deceit. For me, this book started out slowly but gained speed the further I read. All in all I thought it was a good book and I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Suzy, pregnant and scared, has moved to the country with her husband Nick. She's heartbroken because the man she was having an affair with has suddenly disappeared after she told him she's expecting a baby. Nick is very controlling and she's lonely, depending on him for everything because their cottage is far from anywhere. When she finds out her lover has died, she is inconsolable and her husband becomes even more impossible to live with. In the meanwhile a woman has moved into the cottage next to them and Suzy hopes that she'll have a friend to confide in. Little does she realize her life will become even more nightmarish; this woman wants vengeance!
The story is told from the viewpoint of both women and as the stories continue I found it more and more difficult to put the book down. It's a nailbiter!
None of the characters are likeable, (except for Poppet, the poor dog), but that didn't matter because the story was so good. The ending is terrific and quite satisfying. Recommended!

It REALLY took me a while to get into this book, I almost gave up on it. I just kept being like WHAT IS GOING ON. The introduction of new characters, the characters each referring to their ‘you’ it all felt very confusing. I’m glad I persevered because I did end up enjoying it. I read from 50% to the end in one sitting. (Stayed up till 2am too) I found I guessed A LOT of what was going to happen, however the ending seemed nicer than I originally thought. All rather far fetched, but also very familiar at the same time. I’ve had my go at toxic controlling relationships in my time!

This was an okay domestic thriller. The story just felt kind of flat and boring. At times I thought it would pick up in pace but I was just bored with the storyline. Took me a while to finish. Had promise but really just wasn’t there for me. Would not recommend. Thank you netgalley for letting me give an honest review of this book.

One good thing about this book- it kept me hooked. The writing was enjoyable and the characters whilst flawed were also interesting. The only issue I had was the book was a tad too long I feel like it could have been wrapped up quicker.

A great domestic thriller which revolves around three women, Suzy, Elle and Nora. What do these three women have in common and how far will they go to keep their secrets? Told from the viewpoint of each woman, this is a suspenseful story of secrets, deceit and revenge which has a good twist at the end.

I really enjoyed this book , some really good twists , fast paced and entertaining ....

The story is told mainly from the perspective of Suzi and Nora , they live next door to each other and both are harboring some secrets . Suzy is married to Nick who is controlling and abusive , Nora a recent widow . We soon find what connects these two women and the twists just keep coming .

I really enjoyed The Other Wife by Claire McGowan. It's a taut, well written, well paced psychological thriller. In Part One of the novel, we meet three women: Nora, Suzi, and Elle. Each chapter alternates between the three points of view. Nora is a 42-year old widow moving into a rather run-down cottage in the middle of nowhere (outside London). She's an unhappy, mysterious character who's motives with the move won't come clear for many chapters. Next is Suzi, a pretty young, pregnant wife a good bit younger than Nora and her only neighbor for miles and miles. Suzi is married to an insanely controlling man (Nick) and is desperately unhappy about both her marriage and their move to the country where she has no job, no friends, and is trapped in her home playing wifey. Suzi is also in love with another man, someone who is married and may be the father of her unborn child, but the man has suddenly ghosted her. Finally, we meet Elle. Elle used to be a concert pianist but is now a full-time wife, married to a doctor. She seems to be a bit neurotic and as we meet her, she's going crazy waiting for her husband to come home, frantic that he's late. Nora and Suzi meet early on, but as a reader, you're not sure how Elle is going to fit into the story. And so it begins.

This is the second of McGowan's books that I have read, and I will be a faithful follower from here on. She is a skilled storyteller, and I thoroughly enjoyed both novels. The Other Wife is a complex, dark tale of deceit and vengeance, and I loved the way McGowan brought everything together in the final chapters. A very satisfying ending.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting novel but one that could have, imo, greatly benefit from being shorter.
The way the chapters are, one in each of the character's POV, the story goes slowly unfolding, but it gets to a point when it is a bit too slowly.
It's more a character study than a thriller; you start to understand what is happening as you start to get into their minds and understand their motivations.
No one is really likeable here but the author does a good job of making the reader care for them, nonetheless.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A brilliant book following the lives of pregnant Suzi, Elle and Nora. Lots of twists and turns that start with Nora moving to the countryside that sets off a chain of events. Each chapter written from the perspective of Suzi, Elle or Nora, this book is very easy to read and switches between the characters effortlessly to keep the story moving. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

Suzi has moved to the countryside with her husband Nick in order to repair their marriage. She is pregnant and the moved to an isolated farmhouse might be what they need to make things right between them. They even get a dog. From Nick's perspective Suzi has alot to make up for.

Suzi and Nick have a new neighbour Nora who, due to proximity, they are bound to be courteous to. There are no other close neighbours. It's clear from the outset Nora is not what she seems, though it takes some time for her agenda to be disclosed. Suzi is looking for a confidante. She feels alone, and we soon see Nick's continual gaslighting and methods of coercive control, his rationale being that Suzi has cheated on him (twice).

The Other Wife is told from multiple, and at times, confusing amounts of people's points of view across different time periods. For me, it tended to deflect from the story for me, rather than add to it. There seemed to be so many players and so many moving parts, making some of the plot twists fall short. The story did not evolve for me, it felt forced and somewhat chaotic.

I have had the pleasure of reading alot of thrillers lately and it's possible my view of this book was influenced by my high opinions of those. I could not rate this highly in comparison unfortunately. I also did not draw Suzi close, although she was very much the victim in this book and I applaud Clare McGowan for addressing the issue of coercive control in this book.

Thank you to Clare McGowan, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.. This is published 24 October 2019.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan
Thanks @netgalley @evawoodsakaclairemcgowan and @amazonpublishing for my arc
Publication date 24th October
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
‘She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are’.
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Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now. She feels trapped in her cottage, in the middle of nowhere with only her jealous and controlling husband for company. Then Nora moves in next door and Suzi is delighted to have a new friend. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. Does she know what Suzi did?
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This is definitely up there with one of the best books I’ve read this year. A dark tale of deceit and vengeance, well written characters that although had some horrible traits, were likeable in their own ways and I felt really invested in what happened to them. An absolute nail biter of a story, kept me on edge the whole way. Highly recommended xx

I found this to be a very slow story and almost gave up on it. I did finish it but thought it was quite far fetched. An OK read but not one that I would enthusiastically recommend

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars

This is what I would call a perfect trashy read.i read it in a few hours.
Full of unlikable characters in ridiculous situations,that they keep lying about,and getting away with... but oh so very entertaining.
If it wasn't the end of summer I'd be telling everyone to take this to the beach with them.
The main part of the plot,and it's (to begin with) triple narrative ,was I think easy to guess what was going on... but there were plenty of surprises to come.
Highly enjoyable.

I am not usually fond of stories that are told from different viewpoints, but it worked well with 'The Other Wife'. I really enjoyed this book, which had me turning the pages from start to finish. Good twists. Recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.

I started this book in the morning and just finished it. I just couldn't stop reading!
Suzi is pregnant and living with her husband, but missing her lover.
Nora just lost her husband and had to leave her home as she couldn't afford it anymore. She moves next to Suzi and Nick. And just like them, she has a secret or two.
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next, there was another plot twist that just changed everything.
It was a great read, with amazing plot and very interesting characters. They feel so real, with all their flaws.
I loved the ending. It was very satisfactioning.

A great domestic thriller with engaging well developed characters.

Suzi/Nora/Elle three characters whose lives will be tangled up together in ways that weren't least expected.

Suzi is pregnant and suffers from her obsessively jealous control freak of a husband who practically imprisoned her in their country home. Then a new neighbor "Nora" moves in and Suzi couldn't be happier to have someone to confide in, big mistake!

Then there is Elle who seems to be having the perfect life, but this is just a facade.
When those women's lives collide, there is a chain reaction of lies, betrayals, backstabbing, revenge and much more.

I was really invested in this story, but my only quibble was with the pace.
I felt that a more tighter writing would have sped up the pace, because there was a long gap between a twist and its denouement which took away from the shock value. Regardless I would recommend this book as it is both unique and engrossing.

I voluntarily reviewed this book through Netgalley, thanks Amazon Publishing UK, and author Claire McGowan.

Couldn't get into this story line, just didn't 'grab me' sorry. I did persevere to about 50% but then had to give up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Very well written and with plenty of twists and turns. I felt there could have been a little more tension, and a little more uncovered about precisely what was going on in that hospital! But some really interesting characters and the issue of coercive control was well handled.

Nick and Suzi move to the countryside just outside of London. It is a fresh start after Suzi's affair. They agree to move away from London life. Less temptation for Suzi and she can concentrate on being a proper wife. No boozy dinners after work. No friends, no car. and no town nearby

When Nora moves in down the road- Suzi is delighted. She is a city girl, used to the hustle and bustle of London life and moving was a big change for her.

Nora happily greets her, grateful for a friend - she is a widow that has just had to downsize down to money.

Elle spends her day ensuring the house is perfect for her Dr Husband. Patrick. He spends hours at the hospital and is often late. Being alone with her thoughts and on medication he prescribed Elle worries and becomes a bit needy.

However when Patrick dies he leaves a trail of unanswered questions like why did all the money go? Elle decides to follow the trail and what she find is her most darkest worry of all!

The book tells the story through different perspective. It changes from Nora to Elle to Suzi. At first it can be a bit confusing as there is quite a few women but once you find out a bit about each person. Eventually the story pieces together nicely. I am glad I kept reading on as after I got know bits and pieces I became quite hooked.

The ending was unexpected.. I imagined it to be different to what was written. But I guess it shows the type of character.

Therefore this was a great read.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan
What I Loved: The way the author wove so many secrets into the story. The twists and turns were done so that you were propelled through the book. Something would be revealed and I just had to keep turning the pages to see what was next.
To Read or Not To Read: This is a To Read for anyone who loves mystery, suspense, or thrillers!!

Suzi has cheated on her husband, and now she's pregnant and the man she was seeing has disappeared. Nora moves in next door and immediately befriends Suzi, although she may already know more about Suzi than she is letting on. This story takes you on a rollercoaster ride!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this! I love a good old domestic thriller. The book hooked me from the start and I found myself warming to Suzi despite the things that let her down (trying not to give too much away). I guessed one of the twists, most likely because I've read so many domestic thrillers that I could probably write my own but guessing the twist didn't alter how much I enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more by Claire McGowan!

Great twists You are on the edge of your seat reading The Other Wife. Suzi and her husband Nick move to a secluded area. They have one neighbor named Elle Unbeknownst to Suzi, Elle is watching her. Secrets and lies

The story starts off being told from 3 points of view: Suzi, Nora and Elle.

Suzi recently moved to the country side where she spends her days alone and lonely. She is pregnant and married to her man who definitely does not treat her well, an example of what her husband Nick would say to her:
"I'd prefer you focused on the house, actually cooking a decent dinner, that kind of thing."
Suzi's chapters are all written to another man (not her husband), as if she is telling him a story, she yearns for him, even after it becomes clear he does not deserve her love and devotion.

Nora is Suzi's new neighbor and she is up to something. It takes a while before we find out what exactly and why she is spying on Suzi... but it gets more and more interesting.

Elle seems like a timid woman. She constantly hears her mother's disapproving voice in her head.
"As if anyone could ever love you."
She's married, but not secure in her marriage. She spends her days at home, waiting for her husband to come home, trying to be the perfect wife based on a 1950s idea of a perfect wife. She seems mentally and emotionally rather unstable and completely dependent on her husband.

Throughout the story we get to know these women more and more. In my opinion, Elle was weak and just not really living her life. Suzi was not the smartest girl, she could have gotten herself out of her mess a lot sooner, rather than waiting for it to escalate. Nora seems smarter, but not the kindest person. So basically there was not one person that I loved or related to in this story, but I still enjoyed it and followed every twist and turn that got thrown at me.

It's funny how one of the women sums up what happens in this book as:
"The plot sounded so elaborate. Like something you'd read in one of those trashy thrillers...

and yes, I agree... the story wasn't fully believable, but it was still good.

This is the 2nd book by the author and after the 1st book I couldn't wait to read another one. The Other Wife was so good and kept me hooked from start to finish. Claire McGowan is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. The Other Wife, has everything I look for in a good mystery novel. Mystery, complex characters, not a lot of romance, and lots of drama.

The plot was intense, powerful and thrilling and held me captive all the way through! The characters fairly leapt off the page, and the tension was palpable. If you are looking for a book that you just CAN’T put down, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Bookouture in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

#TheOtherWife #NetGalley

I was absolutely captivated by this book. .It was compelling as the story evolved and changed,there were so many twists and changes.Although Suzi had made mistakes she totally had my empathy and I wanted a happy ending for her! Buy this book,its the best book I have read for ages, you won't be disappointed!!

The Other Wife is a well written psychological thriller. I was sucked in from the start and kept engaged throughout.

This is the perfect psychological thriller. There’s lots of twists and turns throughout that you won’t see coming. Claire McGowan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I’ve loved everything that I’ve read of hers recently. I’d strongly recommend this book.

Suzi made some mistakes. Now she's stuck in a bad situation. Things start looking up when Nora moves into the only other house nearby. Things are not as they appear and Suzi is not the only one with a secret...

I enjoyed this thriller novel. I did predict the plot twists (one very early on), but the book kept me interested for the most part. There were some slow moments that could have been shortened. I appreciated the multiple points of view and found the ending to be very satisfying. I had hoped for a bit more character development, and I think I would have liked the protagonists much more if they had shown some more growth. This was a solid domestic thriller that offered some scary, suspenseful moments and a whole lot of revenge.

Two strangers but are they? How do they connect together? One of them did something unforgivable and now it’s slowly catching up.

A gripping thriller with many twists and turns, maybe a little long in places but it didn’t ruin the read.

The ending was super 🤩

Highly recommend to any thriller lovers.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Gallery in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great psychological thriller.
Suzi did something bad and she is paying for it.
She is almost tempted to tell her friend Nora about it.
Elle spends her days in her perfect home and keeps her secrets to herself.
A shocking event occurs and it brings all three women together
A fascinating book

A women who can't help but have an affair moves to a very isolated place. with her husband. Months later a women moves into a cottage next door. And so the story begins and we get to know the characters. I feel like if I explained anymore it would spoil the story.. This was a very Intriguing , entertaining book. One I couldn't put down. The author did a great job keeping me entertained and wanting to know whats going to happen next. Even though I guessed at a couple things happening in the story it did not wreck the story in any way. Many twists and turns in the book I never expected and kept me wanting more..

Twists that I didnt see coming people you get to care about and route for. Very well written and a very good read.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book even though I figured out who connected to who and how the stories of the women intertwined. I think that there was almost too much foreshadowing that when it was supposed to be the reveal, I wasn't really gasping or really having any emotion. However, I couldn't put it down regardless because I had to know the ending. I don't think I was entirely shocked with the ending except for where the child ended up.

3 Stars

This was a tough one for me. I had to really push through most of the book. I found the characters unlikeable.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a book written from multiple points of view which sometimes doesn’t work but in this case, it does. If you are like me, a HUGE fan of mysteries and thrillers, you will want to read this novel. I cannot get enough of books like this one that keeps you biting your nails in fear!

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick.

When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did?

Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before…

Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.

Many questions, secrets, and lies that I was kept guessing throughout. Highly recommended!

This book comes out on October 24! Pre-order now.

A domestic thriller with unlikeable-but-interesting characters that keeps you on your toes. It was slow to start (at least in my opinion— there are plenty of reviews saying otherwise) and the ending felt really chaotic in a forced way. There were definitely moments that were harder to believe than others, but once you learned to ignore that feeling it was overall quite enjoyable.

I would've preferred tighter writing and a shorter book in order to keep that urgent, panicked feeling, but it wasn't bad at all. I'll definitely consider reading Claire McGowan's other work.

3 stars
I feel very conflicted by this book, The Other Wife by Claire McGowan. The story is told from the perspective of multiple people. I loved the vast majority of the book. I was instantly sucked into the plot and couldn’t wait to see how the whole plotline played out. And then when the end came, it was an utter disappointment.
300 pages of suspense building up to an incredible ending and then a complete failure. It was almost like the author just got tired of writing and just decided to wrap it up. Why? This book deserves a different ending and another 50 pages or so. What was the point of the very tiny subplot of Allison and her partner? It absolutely made no sense.
This book could have easily been a 5-star book with an alternate finale. But instead, I give it a 3.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

A psychological thriller told by the two main characters suzi and Nora.
Suzi and her husband nick move to an isolated cottage in the middle of nowhere, nick goes to work all day leaving pregnant suzi and a puppy alone all day with no car or money she has secrets to hide but feels isolated and has a sense that she is going mad all curtesy of her husband nick.
Nora a widow moves in next to them and somehow seems to know all about suzi as they become friends! The way these two women are linked and by whom gradually becomes apparent and the links and ties that bind them, a sobering thought that with today’s technology how we can be controlled and how easy it is to delve for information that is freely available! A thought provoking read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.

One word sums the other wife up, clever it's really really clever and genuinely keeps you guessing until the very last page. Keep your wits about you and trust nobody.

Brilliant book. I couldn’t put it down. It was complicated to decide who was the villain in the story. I thoroughly recommend this book

This was a fun read - it drew me in right away with the alternating points of view as a new neighbor, Nora, moves into a cottage in a remote and isolated area. We see it from her point of view and also from Suzi's, who lives across the street with her husband Nick, and appears anxious and edgy about every little thing. Sure, she's pregnant and a bit scatterbrained, but there's much more to it. The women meet and become friends, as much as they can be with the secrets they're both keeping, that is. We also meet Elle, another anxious wife who dotes on her husband and never quite believes that their marriage is as perfect as it seems. She's right, of course.

I can't say that any of the twists were exactly mind blowing and you will probably see them coming, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy this story as it unfolds. The female characters are likable, although Suzi is a little too extreme with her nervousness and constant unease. It would have been nice to see her with a bit more backbone and less self-pitying remorse about her past. The male characters are almost all deplorable narcissistic jerks except of course the one that helps to save the day. Male readers may be a bit turned off by this!

Even though I felt like I've read this tale many times before, the author keeps it fresh and the story flows easily as the lies are exposed and everything starts to unravel for the women. I found myself turning page after page, impatient to see who survives and at what cost. I wasn't disappointed!

This is a slow burner of a story that peels away at the layers of deceit and deception. Told form the viewpoint of 3 characters, it delves into their lives, showing nothing is ever quite as it seems! A great, solid read.

A tangle of lies, deceival and marital abuse. Two women with similar destinies, whose lives were brought together and partly destroyed by a professional liar. The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a complex thriller of deceival and revenge, which explores the deep secrets of the angry brain.

Suzi, heavily pregnant and Eleanor/Nora a sad widow are new neighbours in the middle of the nowhere English countryside. A simple friendship which evoles to something else. More complex and unexpected. Both of them met a man that meant something to them. A man that apparently died and took with him part of those women' lives. But what actually do they know about this man?

Step by step, the novel is delving into revealing snapshots of secrets that were hidden. In both women lives there are secrets, deadly in some cases. The reality proves to be completely different and the truth is always hidden. When it comes out, it's a corpse left behind.

I've been fascinated by the technique of building the narrative, with unexpected turns and dramatic developments. All characters do have issues and bloody secrets they are easily living with and this is a pretty scary view on human nature. It might be, as one of the police officer said at a certain point that most crimes are committed by a person you know, but this dark side of humanity is terrifying. Maybe this is how it is, maybe not.

From the literary point of view, I've had often the feeling that the narrative is disbalanced as the main interest is on the characters. It's like the writer is so keen to share so much about the dark sides of them that sometimes the proper development of the plot is somewhere lost in between the cross-stories shared by different viewpoints.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a chilling novel, you hardly leave it until it is finished, with a maigre touch of feminism - as both women are victims of manipulative men. A story that makes you think and pessimistically encourage you to suspect any couple you might see happily holding hands on the street. Something to think about later on.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a thriller about a couple and a woman who lives next door. Nora moves in next door to a pregnant Suzi and her husband Nick, in a neighborhood hidden away from the city. Soon both Nora and Suzi realizes they both hold secrets they don't want the other to know, and their lives are more connected than they think.

The story is written with several narrations: Nora, Suzi, Elle, and detective Allison. In the beginning, I wondered how these characters relate to each other. But I saw the twist coming from a mile away. I'm not sure if the author intended to make it obvious. However, towards 3/4 of the book, came the twists I did not expect. There is a lot going on in the book. The book has a "Gone Girl" similarity to it. I just wish the twists have a more "omg" factor it, because I wasn't shocked.

Overall, I thought it was a good read. Thank you to Netgalley, Claire McGowan, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This story definitely kept me interested, which is why it's earned 4 stars. I don't feel that the plot was incredibly amazing or anything special, but it was a fast and easy - even fun! - read. I liked how strong Suzi was. She wasn't the typical simpering "oh poor me" character that you often find in these thrillers. I recommend it as an easy and quick read on a rainy weekend or at the beach/pool.

Found this book amazing! Would love to read more of books from this author
5**** from me
Would definitely recommend this to others

Thank you Net Galley and Amazon for an early release of The Other Wife. Claire McGowan does it again, Intriguing!!! Loved it, got a bit confusing at the end and I don't understand the title BUT a very good read. I never wanted to put it down.

The Other Wife i'm sorry to say was not for me,i just couldn't get into the story of Suzi,her controlling husband Nick and their neighbour Nora who moves in to spy on Suzi after she discovers what Suzi had done to her.Suzi confides in Nora about what she did not knowing that she already knows her secrets and lies,I just found the whole book dragged on and on with no real purpose and off putting from the first page with it jumping from one character to the next without really explaining what was happening and it was a little confusing at times,i always try to give a book a while before i lose interest but this was hard work but i like to finish them and i did, but this really is not a book which i will recommend.I may be in the minority with my review and others may love it.But sorry it just wasn't for me.A 2 star read at best..

A page turner that will keep you awake late into the night. Though I could guess the first twist, the others were a surprise. The women are very gullible for someone who are professionals in their fields and survivors. Otherwise a gripping read.

I really enjoyed most of this book. I found the interplay between characters interesting and thought it well written. For me , however, the ending was a little week and unbelievable.

“The Other Wife” is the story of three wives, each with a secret.

Suzi cheated on her husband Nick and now she’s pregnant. The two have moved to the countryside at Nick’s insistence, but as his need for control increases, so does Suzi’s desperation.

Nora is widowed, and has just moved in next door to Nick and Suzi. Nora’s husband wasn’t exactly who she thought he was...but then, Nora’s not being honest about who she is either.

And lastly there’s Elle, a former concert pianist married to a doctor. On the outside Elle seems to have the perfect life, but she’s miserable. Convinced her husband is having an affair, Elle will go to desperate measures to keep her perfect life intact....

This is a novel about mistakes and secrets, and MAN, are there a lot of them! But the author manages to weave a deft and intricate story without it ever feeling too complex or heavy handed. I do enjoy a split narrative, but was a bit worried when the third voice came in as I thought it might be a bit too much. Thankfully, we are in capable hands, and it’s beautifully managed, with each character speaking in a distinctive and singular voice so that keeping track of each story is easy. The writing is skilful, and I loved the characters - each had a past and each had made mistakes, but I found myself quietly rooting for each of them in turn - I hate when a character is written as a complete saint or total sinner, I just find it unrealistic and irritating. These characters were flawed but they had real heart, and I connected with all three women. .

There are some excellent twists in this novel, and it’s perfectly paced, with the tension ratcheted right up towards the end. I loved it - it’s absolutely one of my top thrillers of the year so far (and I read a lot of thrillers!). I can’t wait to see what else this author comes up with - a really fresh and exciting voice.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Other Wife is a thriller about as original as its title. Which is to say not at all. It’s very similar to a great many women authors women driven thrillers that seem to be all the rage nowadays, it diligently works the formula, but doesn’t go out of its way to offer readers something new or exciting. So here you have the traditional split narratives, which do eventually narrow down via a twist so (from miles away) easily predictable, it barely seems like a twist at all. But essentially it is a story of two marriages, both crappy, with wives in both being the victims of coercive control. In fact, this is laid on so thickly, it can be a coercive control PSA. Which is, of course, a terrible thing, but also very much one of those two to tango scenarios. So before you go pitying the wives, consider this…they made choices, they made stupid choices and stuck with them and continue to do so on daily basis through personal weaknesses or self delusion. And also…they are not the naïve innocents in all of this. In fact, they are criminals, liars or both. Obviously, the wives are connected in some way and obviously it’s through a man, this is, after all, a very obvious book. And so everyone go around playing their games, lying and manipulating those around them, only the men are made out to be the deviant, while the women are helpless damsels who are just kind of waking up to their circumstances. The fact that one of them wakes up all the way (the other one makes some efforts, but essentially just rolls over and waits to be rescued) and gets in a mood for revenge is one of the best aspects of the novel, but it just isn’t enough to elevate the estrogen saturated (very much so, in fact the author also writes women’s fiction under a different name) triteness of the plot. So depending on how you like your suspense thrillers this may or may not work for you. If your expectations, need for clever twists and originality are all set to low and you don’t mind spending time with a bunch of not especially likeable liars and cheats…go for it. The writing itself is decent enough, very readable. It’s pop fiction, essentially, the psychological darkness of the genre (one of my favorite things about it) isn’t really all that dark. There is some demented behavior and some genuinely sh*tty mother figures for a book so obsessed with motherhood, but not enough, the bulk still rests with the helpless clueless women being manipulated by their evil, evil men. And if that wasn’t simplistic enough, the final twist, the reason someone gets found out, is so amateurishly dumb, especially after creating and executing such an elaborate plan, that it’s just…laughable. So yeah, mediocre at best, something like a mindless beach read. Very easy read, but not exactly intellectually or otherwise thrilling. Your mileage may vary. Thanks Netgalley.

This is my first Claire McGowan book. I found the story very slow and quite unbelievable at times. I didn't particularly like the characters enough to care what happened! Not a book I would recommend.

Unfortunately, I just really felt this a a formula book. Very similar to so many of the suspense books out right. now. Nothing Original about it.

Review
Suzi and Nick have moved to a cottage in the country, a cottage that has been modernised with security and technological features. Instead of feeling content in her new home, Suzi feels sad, isolated and lonely. She is also missing Sean, a Doctor, who she has fallen in love with and who she believes is the father of her unborn baby. She doesn’t know where he is and why she hasn’t heard from him.

Nick is controlling, possessive and critical. He seems to know all of Suzi’s movements and tries to control all aspects of her life.

Nora moves into the cottage next door and she and Suzi start to make friends, however Nora is suspicious of Nick’s attitude towards Suzi. It isn’t long before Suzi tells Nora all about the other man. She decides to go to the hospital where he works to find him. It is only there that she realises that Sean may not have been entirely truthful with her.

In the meantime, recently-widowed Nora has her own past to come to terms with.

This book deals with domestic abuse from a psychological as well as physical aspect. I thought the way it was written seemed realistic with Nick’s behaviour getting worse, the less control he had.

There were some other parts of the book that I struggled to relate to. Dr Holt’s parents - too much of a coincidence. Dr Holt’s unprofessionalism, eg contacting Suzi about Nora - this irritated me because it just wouldn’t happen. Suzi being such a wet blanket when she obviously had such a strong personality in London - to then being so passive in such a short period of time. Surely most women would still have some strength to stand up for themselves? I didn’t like Nora and I couldn’t see how she could get away with what she did without raising suspicion. And, how the two women could become close friends finished on a bit too much of “not sure how to end this book, so let’s give it a happy ending” note for me.

Overall, I would say that it was a good book, an enjoyable read but there were some anomalies that I couldn’t overlook. For its enjoyability factor, I rate it 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks
Thank you to the author Claire McGowan and publishers Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an independent review.

This was a domestic thriller that keeps you on your toes. For once a domestic thriller that I didnt know what the outcome was going to be. It has some great twists that I didnt see coming. Was it the neighbor, the wife, the other woman, the ex, or the husband? Who was doing all these stalkerish things to Suzi. The story was fast paced and the chapters short enough that I just couldnt help to keep reading on. If it was a tad bit shorter it would have been just that much better because it was losing pace about 3/4 of the way for me and then picked up toward the end. I would read another one by this author.

The other wife is a thiller based around betrayal, domestic violence and revenge..... or so you think, it has twists and turns galore and kept me guessing to the very end. I though I had the ending sussed.... I was wrong.
Suzi is living isolated in the country with her controlling husband and no friends, that is until Nora moves into the area. I found the characters hard to like to begin with but they grew on me as the xstory unfolded, this book skips from the perspective of different characters chapter to chapter which is a writing style I have come to really enjoy.
defiantly one to read

4 stars

This book sucked me right in as it’s my favourite sort.

It’s twisty and full of suspense and although the characters are (I assume deliberately) unlikeable the story is enjoyable.

Loved this! Very strong characters which led you through a story of suffering and deceit with twists and turns along the way. It was very engaging and was definitely a page turner! Would recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller/drama novel.

Look forward to reading more from Claire McGowan. Thank you Net Galley.

The Other Wife had kind of a creepy, sinister vibe. Like something wasn't right, and you knew something was going to happen, but who is bad and who do you need to worry about?

What I liked- there was a slow unravelling of the story, bits of information coming to light about each of the characters, and twists right until the end. Also, no one was perfect and the suspense level was good.

Some times the story lagged a little, and others it was full of twists and action. Also, the many names and points of view per chapter at first were confusing, which I'm sure was intentional. I liked the end and would read more by this author, this was a first for me.

Told from the POV of at first three different women wronged by a scam artist, the story then cuts to just two of the women. The Other Wife, set in an isolated rural neighborhood, is a tale of deceit, murder, and revenge that slowly unfolds, the pacing as languid as the long days that stretch out for one of the protagonist's, Suzi. Wallowing in guilt over an affair she's had and the growing control her husband has gained over her life, Suzi starts a tepid friendship with a new neighbor, Nora, who has moved just into the cottage across the road from her. What Suzi doesn't know is that Nora's move is not just a coincidence.

Suzi's thoughts are constantly on the disappeared lover and his baby that is growing in her belly. While lost in her own private hell and suffering from pregnancy fog, the gravity of just how much her husband is manipulating her life is lost on her. Too late, she comes to learn that Nora isn't who she thought she was. But as carefully laid plans begin to unravel and secrets come to light, Nora might be her only salvation. Is she a friend or a foe?

The pacing was a little slow in the first quarter of the story, but the author paints a rich detailed internal life of her characters, making them vivid and lifelike for the reader. I don't think the slow pace, in the beginning, is a problem. It's more about personal taste. The story was well-written and had good twists and plot reveals. I enjoyed it.

This was one of my absolute favorite books this year. It keeps you drawn in and trying to figure out the connections between the characters is so fun. At the beginning of the book, I was so confused because of how vague everything was being portrayed. Once you get to a certain point and you understand the connections, you can't stop reading. I read the entire book in one day. One of my favorite things about the book is how the characters progress. We see who the characters truly are as things are revealed in the story. I loved this part of the book. It has all the aspects that a good thriller needs. In the end, I would recommend this book to everyone. I think it has something for everyone. This was a 4.5/5 star read for me. I can't wait to spread the word about this book! I loved it so much!

THIS! This book is definitely a must must read!! This book was so good that I did not want to put it down! I couldn't wait to see what happened at the end, but I didn't want it to end!! It was that good!!!!!!

(Pregnant) Suzi had an affair and now her and her controlling husband are living in an extremely isolated house..

Then Nora moves into the only other house near them.. but what does Nora know about Suzi's extramarital affairs? What is her plan for moving there.. and whose side is she on??

I felt that this one started off a little slow, and somewhat confusing.. but to push through it is well worth it! The second half picks up, things fall into place, and it ends up being a solid, who's who thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire McGowan, and Thomas & Mercer for this galley in exchange for an honest review. #TheOtherWife #NetGalley

A domestic thriller three women three friends each with her own secrets .Book full of twists and turns told from each womens point of view a true page turner. #amazonuk #netgalley

The Other Wife is a solid domestic thriller with relatively unlikable, but interesting characters and twists and turns that come together for a satisfying ending. It follows the popular multiple POV format, teasing bits of each character's story and how they are all interconnected.

What I really enjoyed about this read was the depiction of of gaslighting in Nick and Suzi's relationship. McGowan did a great job showing how easy it is for this to happen and the slow build process that can have deadly repercussions.

Thank you to #netgalley and Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a real slow burner, that for the first 2/3rds seems to be really skittish leaping from one thing to another without really getting anywhere. It jumps between the two main protagonists, who know of, but don't know each other. Embezzlement, fraud and control being their controlling factors.


From the city, to rural snow covered (for the most part), Kent. Music rooms, to bleak cottages.


There are twists and turns a plenty, which are drawn together very well towards the end of the book.


Well worth a read, if you have some spare time.


#TheOtherWife #NetGalley


Rating: 3.8/5


Status: Completed


Release Date: 24th October 2019

A good quick read with some surprising turns. You quickly realize a few major details of each characters identity but how it plays out in the end was unexpected.

Adultery, murder, and blackmail. A perfect combo!

This is a very good story, sleekly told. The principal female characters relate their story from each of their different points of view, gradually uncovering their interconnected backstories informing the reader of who they are and how they ended up where they are; as it happens, the male characters do not get a voice but wouldn't be able to justify their horrible behaviour even if they did!!

There are a few very good twists and the resolution is very satisfying; also by the end of the book, the reader gets a real understanding of the hideous and unpleasant practice of 'gaslighting' - if they didn't already know. The Other Wife is highly recommended, if you like psychological thrillers!!

I have read other books by Claire McGowan and this one definitely lives up to the high standard of her others.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchanged for my honest review.

The story is told by different views. Each chapter is named after the character so you know who's point of view your reading.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Twists and turns that kept me guessing. I had my own thoughts for the ending but was surprised at the end.

I recommend this book to anyone who is into psychological thrillers

People are never who they seem.
This book is full of twist and turns, some you see coming others you don't.
If you are fan of thriller this book is for you.
It has a great plot and I couldn't put it down.

A twisty thriller! Hold on to your seat! Suzi is living with her husband Nick. They live in a secluded area. One day they get a new neighbor Elle which Suzi is happy because she thinks she has a new friend but is Elle really watching her?

I really loved this book!! It had so many twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!! This was my first book by this Author, and it won’t be the last!! Quick read!! Highly recommended!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Suzi and Nick live in a secluded are, both hiding secrets. Nora has moved in next in next door, Suzi is excited to have another person around but Nora has her own secrets. She knows who Suzi is and knows the secret that could ruin Suzi and Nicks marriage.

A quick and enjoyable thriller that keeps you on your toes trying to guess how everything to connected.
I had trouble rating this one because 3 stars seems to low but it didn’t quite reach 4 stars for me.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

I was given this book by Net Galley for an honest review -
Susie is married to a jealous husband. She has an affair and finds herself pregnant - who is the father?
A new neighbor moves in and Susie shared her secrets with her - but what is the neighbor up to?
And then Nora meets Susies controlling husband and discovers all the ways he has been watching and controlling her - will she be able to help Susie before something happens?
With twists and turns this read takes you to a startling ending!

I debated about giving The Other Wife 2 or 3 stars. The plot was interesting, but in my opinion author, Claire McGowan, had too much back and forth in time and too many points of view. I was given an early copy to review.

This is an absolutely brilliant book, if I ever had a thought about writing a novel myself I reminded myself throughout that I could never come up with such an intricate plot with so many connecting characters. It's one of the best books I've read in a while and I read a lot. I could hardly put it down. Those involved, I could see clearly, the lane, the cottages, the hospital, Nick, Patrick, Andrew, Nora, Suzi and the inside of their properties, it was all there in my mind. What an amazing author Clare is, ten out of ten or more if there was more.

A creepy psychological thriller that brings together the lives of the characters in unexpected ways with revenge, relationships, stalking, coercive control and more.

In the early chapters of this book we are introduced to Nora, Suzi, and Elle. Each woman has a distinct voice, and they all have intriguing stories to tell. Liz McGowan creates a lot of hooks for the reader that hint at secrets, troubled lives and hidden pasts and I was immediately drawn in by this. The connection between the women is slowly revealed in a way that keeps the story wrapped up in suspense and tension and at times I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what would happen next.

I formed lots of hypotheses as I was reading and guessed a few of the plot twists, but was still left surprised by others. There are unexpected events as intentions of characters change, and the connection between the women shifts and takes a different angle towards the end of the novel. The desolate country setting in the depths of winter adds to the sense of the characters being trapped, whether that is physically or emotionally.

A few chapters are written from a police officer’s point of view, and I didn’t think this added much to the book. While satisfying, the ending felt a bit flat compared with the rest of the book.

Overall a great read and I recommend this to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with dark characters and a story that keeps you turning the pages. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my personal review. #TheOtherWife #NetGalley

I was absolutely engrossed in this book. Read Well into the night in order to find out what happened next. This was the first book I've read by this author but hope that there will be more

#TheOtherWife #NetGalley
The Other Wife is a beautifully written domestic thriller. There's a couple, and a newly arrived widow living in cottages. Well all is not what it seems. All of them have secrets. Written from three Women's POV, it will keep you engagrd until you turn its last page.
Claire McGowan has done it again after her succesful thrillers.
Its a good thriller. Everyone will like it whether they're fans of Claire or not.
A good read.

I thoroughly enjoyed that. There is so much going on in this book; the story just rolls off the pages at you and you find yourself keeping reading until it is finished.

Between nutty Nora, nasty Nick and slippery Sean it is all going on.... poor Suzie!!. Highly recommended read!

The Other Wife has given my hope back for domestic thrillers. I am almost always disappointed with them, but not with The Other Wife, it blew me away and I haven't shut up about it since I've finished it.

I loved every minute of this story, told from the perspectives of Suzi, Nora, and Elle, the multiple points of view made the pacing just right, constantly leaving you hanging and wanting more. I adore the way Claire McGowan plants seeds and leaves breadcrumbs through the entire book, as well as the way she made me second guess myself and my own detective skills until the end.

The twists in this book were some of my favorites, some I saw coming (and I was very proud of myself for) and some I never guessed at all and left me shocked (in the best way, of course). With themes of adultery, gaslighting, and being trapped, paired with unreliable narrators, this story grew into pieces of my worst nightmare.

I can't recommend this book enough, I enjoyed every moment of it.

The Other Wife is the first book by Claire McGowan that I have had the pleasure to read. This book defiantly kept me on edge and turning the pages. There were twists and turns, some of them, I did figure out, but some I was totally blindsided by.
The Other Wife is full of lies, deceit, betrayal and lots and lots of secrets. Most, if not all, of the characters in this book, I disliked in the best way possible. I believe that Ms. McGowan’s goal was for the reader to find most of the characters abhorrent, and in my opinion, she achieved this goal.

The Other Wife is well thought out, the writing was solid and flowed well. Unfortunately, there were some implausible parts to this book, and I felt this distracted from the overall believability, but you will have to decide for yourself.

This story is told from different timelines and multiple points of view, all expressed by the female characters, Suzi, Elle, Nora, and Eleanor, that this story revolved around. Hearing from all these different characters could get a bit confusing. But maybe that was the intent of the author, to keep us on our proverbial toes. However, there were times I wanted to shake these women and say, “Really, what is wrong with you.”

Elle is the perfect wife with the ideal husband to go along with the quintessential life. However, things are not always what they seem to be on the surface. On the other hand, Suzi’s life is a mess, most of which, in my opinion, was her own doing. Her husband, Nick, is controlling, selfish, and belittling.

Under the guise of working on their troubled marriage, Nick moves them out of London to a remote cottage in the country. Suzi is feeling very isolated and unhappy, but as luck would have it, Nora moves into the cottage next door, and they develop a friendship of sorts. This is when the book gets interesting, but that is where I will have to end my review. No spoilers for my review.

The Other Wife is a bit of a slow burn. Ms. McGowan sets the scene thoroughly for this domestic thriller, and her character development is utterly devious. Overall, I did enjoy reading this book. I feel that I must mention there is an element of spousal abuse in this book, so if this is a problem for you, steer clear of this book.

*** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. ***

The Other Wife is a domestic psychological thriller that will have you guessing until the end. This is my first novel by Claire McGowan, and I was pleasantly surprised. She did a wonderful job spacing the story line and revealing twists.

Set in England, Suzie and her husband move to a small isolated town. The only neighbor around is watching Suzie closely. Marital lies, betrayals and secrets… who is telling the truth and who is who they really say they are?

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves psychological thrillers. The Other Wife is a pleasant, easy read.

Thank you, Net Galley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a great little read, I love the UK novels in this genre. This was a little reminiscent of Claire Macintosh or Ruth Ware. Great characters, both flawed and likeable at times.

After reading and enjoying Claire McGowan’s other book, What You Did, I’m definitely disappointed by this one. I found the storyline very uneventful and I wasn’t surprised by anything. It’s also a storyline that I’ve heard several times before. I found myself having no energy to carry on reading, and thought about giving up several times. The only thing I liked is that it was quite a quick read and didn’t take me too long to get through it. I found the characters quite annoying and a bit weak. I will possibly read more from Claire McGowan in the future, but only because I enjoyed What You Did. Unfortunately The Other Wife isn’t one that I would recommend.

This was a fun read about women who all have secrets and lies (why am I always drawn to these?) Suzi meets another woman when she and her husband move to a remote and isolated part of the country. Nora seems sympathetic and friendly (but how does she know Suzi's name)? Then we are introduced to Elle who is has problems of her own as she suspects her husband has been stepping out on her. Why are marriages so complicated? Well, you will see how complicated they are when you read this thriller! Twists and turns that I loved so it compelled me from beginning to end!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I loved it even though some things were predictable but never saw either of the husbands actions coming. Those men were sick and twisted and got what was coming. The wives? I have no words for either one, just pure twisted chicks, yet sadly brilliant.

I couldn't get into this book no matter how hard I tried and no matter how good the reviews are. This book's writing fell flat for me. It did not grab my attention nor my interest. I was not invested in the characters and could not finish the book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Publisher’s description: She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are…

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick.

When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did?

Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before.

Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.
************
Claire McGowan’s “The Other Wife” plays on a common theme of a woman scorned, but in this case, there are three women and we’re not sure at the start who is the scorned and who is the scorner. I had a difficult time following the story until about a third of the way through, which is one of the things that knocks the rating down a bit.

The book begins with an untitled chapter showing us a female character moving away from a house on fire. We don’t know who she is or how old she is, but we can tell that she is intentionally walking away and probably had something to do with the fire. When she sees Sebby calling to her from a window, she runs back. We don’t yet know who Sebby is in relation to her, but she clearly did not intend for him to be in the house.

Then Part One begins with rotating chapters between Nora, Suzi, and Elle. Nora has just moved in to a cottage home in a remote area, where she lives across from Suzi. Nora is alone but seems confident. Her chapters are narrated in the first person. Suzi’s chapters are also in the first person, but she is narrating to an as-yet unknown person (not her husband) with whom she clearly had a relationship. She is afraid of her husband, Nick. She worries when he has arrived home early and she isn’t dressed and hasn’t started dinner. Elle is the most insecure of the three characters. She constantly worries that something has happened to her husband when he is the slightest bit late coming home from work. He does his best to allay her fears when he arrives but expresses concern that she’s “going funny again.” For good measure, the author throws in a handful of chapters about Alison, a detective constable, with a chapter heading of February and either “three months later” or “two months later” in relation to a body found frozen under the snow. There are also a few chapters near the end about Maddy, which I believe are meant to hint at a big reveal, but I had already figured it out by then.

The narration in these chapters seems to have been set up to help keep the characters straight, but because the author is trying to keep the secrets secret, the male characters are almost all referred to with pronouns, so it took me a while to be able to keep the women straight. I kept flipping back to remind myself which one was which. In terms of “time,” we know that Nora and Suzi are in the same timeframe since they are neighbors, and Alison’s chapters always follow Suzi’s so Alison is a few months in the future, but we don’t know when or where Elle’s chapters take place, so this was intentionally but unnecessarily confusing — even knowing the ending and the who/what/where of all the story lines.

About a third of the way through the book, at the end of Part One, we start to see the connection between Elle and the other two women, and that’s when the book starts to make more sense and get interesting. I figured out many of the secrets long before they were revealed, but this was still a solid 3.5 star read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is scheduled for release on October 24, 2019.

Put on your seatbelts this Is a twisty ride!
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. A thriller just in time for Halloween .

The beginning of the book had a slow moving plot that introduced a lot of characters that were hard to keep track of at first. I figured they were all going to be intertwined somehow so I was trying to make possible connections from the start and I'm not sure if that helped or hurt me in trying to keep everyone straight. At around the 2/3rds mark of the book, the plot really started picking up. Characters started revealing themselves and their true motives, connections were made and I was starting to get a glimpse at how it all might turn out. While there were still twists I didn't see coming, nothing was really crazy. This book, unfortunately, fell a little flat with me.

I just finished reading this book and can definitely say it was gripping and a good read. The story was well told and carried me along fast and furious even though I didn’t especially bond with any of the characters. Suzie was pathetic and passively irritating. Nora was too crazy for me to feel comfortable in her presence.. Nick, Suzie’s husband was skillfully drawn as superficially harmless but with a dark underbelly. Elle was a wife blinded by her need for a husband she believed in.

This is a mystery, and a psychological study of what goes for love in our society. Marriage, infidelity, parenthood, jealousy, obsession and betrayal.. Nothing new really but the book was well written and even the parts that were a bit far fetched kept me guessing.

I dont like books that use dogs as a plot foil so here is a spoiler - Poppet survives!

I came away with the sense that human beings are rather unpleasant and selfish creatures. And perhaps that is true for many.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a multi-layered novel of secrets, deceit, abuse, and plenty of twists, all coming together in a suspenseful read that will have you turning pages late into the night. For me, the buildup was slow but the tension only ratchets up as the story progresses, and patience will be duly rewarded.

Told from the alternating perspectives of three women, Suzi, Elle, and Nora, it is immediately apparent that all is not as it seems in the lives of these three women. Suzi, the most fully fleshed out character, is pregnant and living in fear in a remote cottage where she is the victim of domestic abuse. Nora, coincidentally or not, takes up residence in a cottage of her own across the street, and might just be the salvation that Suzi is seeking. Or will Nora's secrets, in fact, be the undoing of them all?

This is a read that picks up steam as it progresses. There are lightbulb moments when individual stories shift into focus, and the twists will have you glad to have stayed the course.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat with the tangled web of lies and deception. Just when I thought I had figured things out another plot twist would come along. I don't want to say much about this book because I don't want to give ANYTHING away.! This was the first book I've read by this author - after my experience with this book I will definitely be seeking out additional books that she's written. I thought she did an exceptional job with the character development - not only with the main characters, but with the supporting characters as well. She also really set the scene of the isolated, cold, rundown cottages (Suzi's was newly renovated, but was formerly one of the rundown cottages). A fantastic read!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

This was one of my absolute favorite books this year. It keeps you drawn in and trying to figure out the connections between the characters is so fun. At the beginning of the book, I was so confused because of how vague everything was being portrayed. Once you get to a certain point and you understand the connections, you can't stop reading. I read the entire book in one day. One of my favorite things about the book is how the characters progress. We see who the characters truly are as things are revealed in the story. I loved this part of the book. It has all the aspects that a good thriller needs. In the end, I would recommend this book to everyone. I think it has something for everyone. This was a 4.5/5 star read for me. I can't wait to spread the word about this book! I loved it so much!

The Other Wife tells the stories of Suzi, Nora, and Elle. Sui and Nora are new neighbors, and Suzi is delighted to finally have someone to talk to. Her husband is the jealous controlling type and he moved her to the country with no neighbors and without a car. He has some right to be jealous though has Suzi hasn’t always been the best wife. She quickly wants to confide all of her dirty secrets to her new friend Nora but that would be a terrible mistake.

Told from differing points of view and with new characters brought in randomly, it was often hard to follow. I finally got it all straight about 2/3 into the book, at which point it was hard to put down. This story has it all: secrets, revenge, gas-lighting, lies and murder. It is a quick and suspenseful read as the lives of these characters come together.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Claire McGowan and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

The chapters are narrated from Suze/Nora/Elle’s perspectives. From the very beginning I was trying to figure out who ‘the other wife’ was...that was easily done by 20-25% of the book. I thought, now what? Well, now the story starts coming up with unexpected twits. There’s quite a bit going. One surprised that I did not see coming....Overall, it was good read and I have already recommended to some friends.

Suzi, now pregnant, had an affair and this love of her life has apparently ghosted her. Her husband has moved her into an isolated internet controlled house as be becomes increasingly more and more controlling. A neighbor moves into the rambling cottage next door and has secrets of her own.

This book follows the currently very popular formula for psychological thrillers, narrated from multiple viewpoints with many twists and turns. It is well written and readable, but there is nothing really new here in a story that is a bit far fetched. I had a hard time with the characters. The women are seemingly out of the 1950s and most of the men full of deceit and domination.

(SPOILERS AHEAD!)

Just fuck me up, honestly. What a twisty tale. I was pleasantly surprised to put together that Elle and Nora were the same woman BEFORE the big reveal (which rarely happens for me!), and I felt like it actually lent itself well to the story to know early, so I could read the story as they were the same person rather than piecing it all together later. I found Suzi to be super dislikable (probably a personal bias from a former spouse cheating but HEY! We've all get our own baggage) and honestly pretty irritating as she backed herself further and further into what felt like a super obvious corner with her husband.

Loved the ending. I was fearful it would end on a cliffhanger, so I was very pleased to have a definitive answer to what happened to most of the characters involved.

This ended up being better than I expected. It's filled with unlikeable, but interesting, characters. About 30% in, I thought I knew exactly how things were going to unfold, but there ended up being a few unexpected twists. It's a fast read. Good, but not great. You'll have to suspend disbelief to get through it. That said, it's well written, and I'm now interested in checking out the author's other books.

This novel has every ingredient in the domestic noir repertoire- three women, and their various POV’s, deplorable husbands, a desolate cottage. Throw in jealousy, secrets, violence. Mix it all up. Out comes The Other Wife and it’s a great read. Recently read What You Did so I knew we had plenty of twists and surprises. Solid four stars.

A good psychological thriller which at times stretches the imagination with lots of twists and turns. Don’t over think it, just read and enjoy and never forget not one of us know that goes on behind a hall door

How well do you know your neighbours?

With thanks to publishers and author for ARC in return for an honest review

Good story, great pacing and reasonably realistically drawn characters. Although the story revolves Round some nefarious characters i found it unexpectedly positive and life affirming also...

The other wife is a domestic thriller with deceit, lies and abuse, told through POV of three women.
Creepy with great plot twists kept me engaged. I read this in one sitting.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon publishing for my advanced copy for sn honest review.

Suzi’s husband Nick moved them to a cottage in the country months earlier, forcing Suzi to leave her job. Now she’s 6-months pregnant, completely isolated and trapped, due to the fact she doesn’t have her own vehicle. And Nick is getting more and more controlling by the day, having a say about everything from how she cleans the house to any piece of food she puts in her mouth. Suzi wants to keep her family together, but all she can think about is the man she’s still in love with, the man she’s been waiting to hear from for months.

And then out of the blue, a woman named Nora rents the cottage next to Suzi’s. Finally, Suzi doesn’t feel so alone. Suzi hopes that she can find a confidant in Nora, but what she doesn’t know is Nora already knows all of Suzi’s secrets and she is planning to use them against her…

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a twisty domestic thriller with a cast full of unlikable characters. We see through the perspectives of 3 women: Nora, Suzi and Elle. We know Nora and Suzi are neighbors, but we are trying to guess how this separate woman, Elle, fits into the mix. Unfortunately, I guessed how the 3 women were all interconnected, which removed the element of surprise. But at the end, there were more twists that I didn't see coming, which kept me hooked to the story. I still would recommend this one! 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Claire McGowan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, if you don't mind spending time with some really unlikable people, this could be the book for you. There are a lot of twists and turns but the author tends to telegraph them so they are not really surprising when they are revealed.

Suzi and Nick move into a country cottage that is so remote that it turns into a prison for the pregnant Suzi. She has no car and the idea of public transportation is laughable. The house has been renovated and is controlled through phone apps (a really terrifying concept for me). Lights start turning on mysteriously and music begins playing out of nowhere. Suzi has made some poor personal decisions in her past and thinks they are coming back to haunt her.

Then a lifeline emerges. A new neighbor, Eleanor, moves in and Suzi has a friend. Or does she?

This is an average thriller that keeps the pages turning but there are no real surprises.

Thanks to NetGalley for a a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Isolated in the English country-side Suzi is mourning a friend, unsure of her new neighbor, and trying to please her demanding husband. Claire McGowan's novel The Other Wife is a great thriller following several women as they unweave the truth and decide who they can trust.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The author has titled each chapter with the character’s name whose point of view from which we will be reading. Did that sentence make sense? For example, if a chapter is titled, Suzi, we will be reading from the point of view of Suzi. I think this is a neat way to organize a book!

I knew from the synopsis that there must be a connection between the characters, but for the life of me I could not figure out what any of the connections were. I was confused for about 80% of the book just because the connections absolutely would not connect, but soon my confusion turned into intrigue.

At times the story moved slowly, but it gave me time to process what was happening.

McGowan is very detail oriented, which those readers who enjoy descriptions of settings, characters, and events will greatly appreciate. While I did not connect with or care for any of the characters in the book, it sometimes takes great talent to create characters who are unlikable and abrasive, and in the case of Claire McGowan, she shows immense talent in character development among other components.

And while I was baffled for the majority of the time I spent with this book, when things all started to come together, it was twist after twist, a symphony of surprises, and an ending that I had to sit with for a while just to process all that had happened.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy thrillers that are difficult to figure out. I would recommend it to readers who love detail such as the exact shade of a woman’s hair and how it falls on her shoulders, or how the snow settled on a quaint valley. Character development was also strong in The Other Wife as were the various setting descriptions.

Thank you for reading my review!

*Great thanks goes to the Publisher for presenting me with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) via NetGalley*

This book kept me up at night, I really enjoyed the pacing and the unpredictability. Every time I thought that I had it figured out, I'd discover I was wrong. Some parts might not always feel grounded in reality, but books like this are meant to be fun...and this one certainly was! I felt like a kid popping quarters into an arcade game, just one more chapter, one more chapter....okay, one more chapter.

If you like suspenseful domestic thrillers, this one will keep you on your toes.

I have read a book by this author before and loved it (What You Did by Claire McGowan) so I was really excited to be given an egalley ARC of her newest book through netgalley. The premise was similar to the previous read in that it is a psychological thriller but the storyline was very different, with different types of crimes being committed. And I genuinely liked it just as much, even though it is very different. 

The storyline goes back and forth in time (which is well signposted) and no-one is who they first appear to be. The major twists are hinted at but there is more to the twists that initially meet the eye. Two women meeting for the first time as neighbours in a remote area of the countryside. Neither really wants to live there but circumstances necessitate it - one is a recent widow and the other attempting to absolve herself for her secret betrayal of her husband. As the mysteries unfold it appears that perhaps their husbands are not the men they claim to be. 

I really enjoyed this book and stayed up far too late one evening to finish!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an egalley ARC. 

***set to autopublish on release date***

It is an ice cold winter and two women are holed up in small cottages next to each other. One is tasteful, snug and warm, the other is horrid and cold. So why are those women there and what is the role of their respective husbands?
We find out through the stories of Ella, Nora and Suzi. All three a bit strange; one is consumed by guild about something she did, so much she plays Cinderella for her husband all day instead of working on her own future; one is consumed by rage and one is simply devastated about what happened.
And then there are the men - Nick and Sean and Patrick. It's like a puzzle and the reader has to fit all pieces together.
None of the characters are very likable and it took me some time to find out what was happening and why, while the end of the book was a bit hurried, I think.
However, I enjoyed reading it; there was enough in the story to keep me interested.

Thanks to Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Sometimes change can solve problem. That was what her husband, Nick, intended before moving to the isolated place and brought Suzi with him. That was what Nora said too about her moving to next of them after her husband's death. Well, it turned out every one of them had their own secret.

You can see that this is a domestic thriller book. Probably you can guess by the synopsis that this book is full of lies and dirty secrets. Yes, that about right. Layers of it.

My first Claire McGowan book, and I find her writing style is light enough to read in one sitting. It's a bit slow and boring at first but it goes faster. The book got so many twists so it is the right book for someone who loves twists. But let's just say the twists are more winning in quantitative than in qualitative ways. Half of the twists can easily being figured out and plain to see.

Anyway, the author took the coercion victims view to the surface with this story. That's great, since it is so common nowadays and people start to make some campaigns all over the place. Seeing Suzy or Nora, being the victim without them realizing it, shows me how victims usually not aware of their real situation. Of course, it is not the first book that came up with the issues, many books before this had it. So it is not that special for a book, but still an interesting issue to draw. It's just a little dissapointing the author not taking the opportunity to view the angle when the victim is not just women but the men can also be one.

The characters itself had some flaws. Like Suzy and Nora who's done so much faults in the past, I saw them as the anti-hero for the story. Well, Nora is. Suzy is not a hero in this, a damsel in distress is more suitable word but I don't blame her when you're being stress and pregnant. The men in this story are so unbearable and deceitful, it could make someone has trust issues by reading this.

Yes, it has many twists, interesting issues, and deceitful groups of characters but some things don't add up in this book. Like how some wrongdoings in the medical ethic, got away with it and no one knew is hard for me to believe. I felt so much dissapointment to the doctors here. How could they!! Also, the ending, it's a little below my expectation but well, I'm still glad for the ending. Overall, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.

Thanks NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

3 of 5 stars

I did enjoy this book - I think I was perhaps just expecting a little too much following on from how much I loved 'What You Did' by Clare McGowan.

Nick and Suzi have moved to a remote location away from their bustling life in London. We very quickly become alerted that not all is as it seems to the outside world in their marriage. Suzi is isolated and practically held prisoner in the house as they are so far removed from the rest of the country and she has no money to go anywhere. Her loneliness seems to be about to end when a new neighbour moves in to their little street. But is Nora there because of more sinister reasons?

I did find myself wanting there to be a hidden twist in this book (And I've often read about how common and predictable twists are becoming) - I couldn't possibly tell you if it does but I will let you know that I did find myself wanting more from this book.

There were elements that were sadly unbelievable - Would someone really be able to gain easy access to a consultant's office and them become so easy to get on board? I also found the dog episode a little far fetched - surely it would bark?

I will read other Clare McGowan books as What you Did blew me away - sadly this one didn't quite hit the mark.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan was a domestic thriller that followed Suzi, Eleanor, and "Nora" through a suspenseful book.

It took me awhile to get into, it. A few of the twists I figured out pretty early on which were kind of predictable. Though, I enjoy the book because I liked suspense books that deal with this topic. I'm rating 3 stars.

Not a "who done it" mystery, but still great as a twisty psychological thriller that keeps the reader fully engaged. For the most part, it did not feel forced or overdone, and the writing is pretty solid. I am often disappointed by mysteries, but was not with this one. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for sharing an advanced copy of this engaging title!

This was a domestic thriller with multiple points of view, deceit, and lies. It was a fast read that kept me engaged and I didn’t want to put it down.

I voluntarily read this ARC in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts and opinions are mine


Loved this - had me hooked from the start.

Fast paced, wonderfully written - great story and character development

Kept me engrossed and couldn't put down - highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this copy to read pre-release in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book that had really caught my eye and I was delighted to get a copy to read. After seeing mixed reviews, I was dubious but I have to say, I really enjoyed the book.

Its twisty, turny, and yes, some parts may be predictable, most thrillers can be, but what interests me is ow the author makes these predictable moments different, and this book was great for that. I felt even though I could guess where some parts of the story were going, it still made me want to read to see how it actually played out.

I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the story and I found myself wanting to pick it up more and more as the story went on.

For me this book gets a solid 4 stars.

Suzi, Nora and Elle are all very different women but they all have guilty secrets which, if they but knew it, connect all three.
To do this book justice you need to lock the door, turn off the phone and, if you're planning to read it at night, book the next day off work because I guarantee you won't put it down until you've finished it. It's an absolute gem of a book with characters you will pity, some you will like and others who will have you spitting with rage. And no spoilers but I loved the end.

Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon

This is my first book that I have read of this author and I really enjoyed it. The characters may not have been on my favorite’s list but the twists and turns kept coming keeping the pages turning. I will admit to not being a fan of the ending of this book but I do look forward to reading more of Claire McGowan’s work.

This is a quick easy read. I found it to be predictable in places. I didn’t like any of the characters either.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Suzi doesn’t know how she got here. From a successful job and a happy marriage, to an isolated country cottage with a resentful husband. Struggling with the isolation, she is desperate to reach out, but mistakes have a way of repeating themselves... So when strange events start occurring in her home, her fear is immediate - is her past catching up with her? Or is there more to mysterious new neighbour Nora than meets the eye?

Now I apologise for the vagueness of that description but if I’m completely honest I wouldn’t really be able to do any better. Partly because there is very high risk of accidental spoilers, but also because this is perhaps one of the most difficult to describe books I’ve ever read. There are three narratives, all female, and especially at the beginning it’s very difficult to work out how everything connects and what is actually happening.

Now the big reveal of who everyone is and how they tied together was supposed to be a major twist in the book I think, but unfortunately it was quite easy to work out a lot earlier than intended. But that isn’t to say that knowing in advance ruined the twist, as from my perspective it was quite enjoyable to watch everything fall into place for both the reader and the characters.

This is a very difficult picture of you because obviously there is a limit on how much I can say without accidentally giving away some of the twists, as there were several along the way. What I will say is that some of the twists were better than others, and towards the end especially there was some things happening that were just far too improbable - suspension of disbelief is one thing, but at times this became almost absurd.

The characters as well were bit of a mixed bag. I didn’t really like any of them, I found them all to be quite irritating and a lot of their actions I just couldn’t understand. But this isn’t to say that it wasn’t an enjoyable book. It’s strange really, the plot was bizarre and the characters hard to relate to, And yet I still found myself quite gripped, And I guess in that sense it shows the true talent of the author to keep you intrigued in a story that by all rights you should of wanted to put down.

All in all, I’m not entirely sure what I think of this one. I read it very quickly, it only took me a day or two, and yet it wasn’t until the end when I realised that I actually enjoyed it. Because of the confusion, I have to say that I would definitely try another of her books, if only to clarify whether I’m actually a fan or not!


Disclaimer - I was provided with an advance copy of this novel by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way and all opinions are my own.

Suzi did a bad thing. She's paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick.
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When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she's almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But is there more to Nora than meets the eye?
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Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. What will she do to keep her secret AND her husband?
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Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.
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This book continued to shock me until the very last sentence. Every time I thought I had it all figured out another shocking secret was uncovered. What did Suzi do? Who can she trust? Is Nora really who she says she is? Can Elle save her marriage and keep her secret hidden? What ties these women together? Pick up your copy October 24 to find out...
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Thank you Claire McGowan, NetGalley, and Amazon Publishing for the advance copy of The Other Wife.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I adored this book and it had me absolutely hooked from the first sentence! What a fast and compelling read. Engrossing story told from three different perspectives that kept you on your toes the entire time! This got me out of my reading slump. Thank you Claire McGowan for writing such a fabulous book! Five huge stars!

So many twists! Nothing is as it seems. I couldn't put this down! Claire McGowan has crafted a near perfect thriller and deftly keeps the pace with multiple narrators. You can feel the snowy English countryside closing in as the tension grows. Such a satisfying novel, right down to the very last line! This the first novel I've read by Claire McGowan, but I certainly look forward to reading more. So few thrillers deliver- this one does!

The Other Wife was definitely an interesting read. Most of the twists were very predictable, but it was still very fun (if by the numbers). I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read these kind of thriller books, especially if you enjoy some of the books that have come out in recent years told by alternating points of view and with unreliable narrators. At times it feels very derivative of some of the popular books of this style (such as Girl on the Train), but in a way that kept it enjoyable and kept me reading.

What I especially appreciated in this novel was the realism in the portrayal of the abusive relationship that Suzi was in. Her husband's slow escalation and use of psychological abuse (coercive control) was very real, but what I really appreciated was that Suzi herself was not a saint. This is often lacking in stories of abuse, which portray the victim as a saint rather than a real person who makes real mistakes but still does not deserve this behavior. I found Nora to be slightly less realistic but I still appreciated the progression of her character and was glad that both women wised up about the men they were with.

Overall this is a simple book that, while not groundbreaking, is very entertaining.

Poor Nora, losing her husband and moving to the middle of nowhere to get over it, Meeting her new neighbour, and Ellie thinking they may be friends!
A page turner from the beginning, just when you think you’ve worked things out, the plot twist again. Great read and gripped to the last page. Karma is a good thing!

This was a solid domestic thriller with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting until the end.
Suzi, one of our main characters, is in a tricky situation, pregnant and in a relationship in which she is being subtly controlled. As you learn more about her you realise that there’s more to her and to her neighbour than meets the eye. Although some of the characters are not hugely likeable, as mentioned in other reviews, I was pulled into the story and to where it may lead. I also grew to understand many of the character’s actions as the plot unfolded, meaning I did grow to like empathise with the main female characters by the end.
The author pulls you into the story, leaving a few clues and references along the way and revealing just enough each time to shock and keep you guessing until the end. I enjoyed this book and will be going to read more of McGowan’s books.
Thank you to netgalley, the author and publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

A domestic thriller with plenty of twists and turns. However the varying narratives did not appeal to me and I found some of it very unbelievable. If you are looking for mindless entertainment this may be your cup of tea. Remember just because it wasn't necessarily for me it may appeal to someone else.

Sadly I struggled with this book. I just found I was unable to engage with the characters and found the plot a little weak.
I didn’t finish either.
Other people might find it a good read. Sadly not for me

I really loved the sound of this book and was really looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately I feel the story started out too slow and was hard to follow. The several character POV’s confused me and were so similar and dull it was hard to follow who was who. The second half of the book was a better than the first but it just wasn’t for me I’m afraid.

(Also posted on my GR account!)

DNF @40%

This book has three different POVs and one weird 3rd person POV from a detective that might be involved in the future parts of the book.
That's one too many POV.

POV aside, the writing didn't give me anything interested. There's no varieties in three POVs that I fail to realize which POV I was without referring back to the name in the chapter.

This is fun thriller to get sucked into. In the beginning, the shifting between characters and their POVs is confusing, but comes together in the first quarter of so of the book. Then things really get going and the bizarre twists and turns just keep coming.

I really ...really.... wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I thought the story started out too slow, hard to follow, etc. I did however like the twists and turns! The second half of the book I thought flowed a little better than the first.

Plot is Suzi and Nick are married and Suzi has done a bad thing. She had an affair and is pregnant and under the roof of a cottage in the middle of 'no where' and living with husband Nick who is controlling and jealous. Suzi decides to reach out to her one neighbor Nora .. and slowly she started to reveal her secrets to her new friend the problem is ...does Nora know? But how?

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of the book for an honest review.

This book is pacy and suspenseful and kept me reading from start to finish. I absolutely devoured it!

The Other Wife by Claire Mcgowan

The Other Wife is a creepy domestic thriller complete with remarkable characters and unexpected plot twists and all which keeps the reader spellbound and wanting more.

I quite like the multiple POV style of writing which seems to be the technique of most writers today.

This is a fascinating style as it takes out the monotony of the narration and allows the readers to get an insight into the depths of the various characters and their underlying emotions. The story covers gas lighting, coercive control, manipulation and other forms of emotional abuse which has become very common today.

Suzi is pregnant and has moved to an isolated farmhouse to supposedly protect her crumbling marriage with her jealous, manipulating and overly possessive husband Nick. Nick justifies his behavior as he thinks that Suzi deserves this as she cheated on him.
When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi hopes she has found a friend and confidante. But is Nora really who she says she is?

The third character in this narrative, Elle leads an apparently perfect life. Her husband’s betrayal however spins her out of control and she will go to any extent to protect her marriage.

These characters’ lives look unrelated but in reality are intertwined with one another in a web of secrets, lies and deceit until they realize that they have more in common than they ever imagined.

This unexpected turn of events keeps the flow of the narrative gripping and Claire delivers a taut and absorbing thriller. Touching on topics of emotional abuse, Claire’s choice of figurative language and the build up of the story line all add to the essence of the narrative.

Domestic thriller meets The Scarlet Letter! I loved the vibe of this story - nice English countryside. Though the jealous husband trope can get old, I thought it was well done in this book. The book felt both plot and character driven which was very refreshing.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get excited about this book! I tried but the characters just fell a little flat and seemed rather boring to me. The storyline didn’t leave me wanting more and I craved that big twist that makes you go “wow”. Don’t think I’d recommend this one...

A solid thriller. I felt the main characters were smart and capable and really cared about their fate. Very well written and insightful.

This is a domestic thriller that had me guessing and trying to put all the pieces together before the end of the stunning conclusion. There were tons of great twists throughout and it reminded me a lot of "The Other Wife" but not in a copy-cat way but a kept me enthralled way. Suzi and Nick move to a very secluded area and Suzi has some secrets that she wants to share. Maybe she can share them with Elle...except Elle has plenty of secrets of her own.

Fast-Paced Psychological Suspense

Suzi once had an exhilarating life in London, replete with a loving husband, successful career and a social life with lots of friends. But lately Nick has turned from loving to controlling—he's transplanted them both to a cottage in the middle of nowhere and dictates her every move. She finds herself pregnant, friendless, jobless and completely isolated, at least until Nora moves in to the cottage across the road. Suzi's hiding secrets she knows she shouldn't share with anyone, especially not a woman she barely knows—but she also needs help.

At first Nora seems capable, practical and strong, just the sort of woman who can be trusted. She's got secrets of her own, however, secrets that have stayed hidden since her childhood. And then there's Elle, the ex-concert pianist whose beauty has faded as thoroughly as her musical career. She spends most of her time as a prisoner in her beautiful home, doing her best to look attractive when her hard-working husband finally walks through the front door every night.

This is one of those addictive thrillers that I can't seem to put down once I start reading. Told from alternating viewpoints—primarily Suzi's, Elle's and Nora's—The Other Wife kept me guessing until the end. There was one key plot point I figured out very early on, but the novel had so many twists and turns I still couldn't see where it was heading. None of the main characters are especially sympathetic but for me this is a point in the novel's favor. Suzi's insecure chaotic, crisis-driven persona seems realistic and relatable—I also liked coming across a main character for once who isn't thrilled at the prospect of becoming a mother. The newly widowed Nora also held my interest. There's a dark, calculating side that makes her far from the dowdy, middle-aged victim her husband tried to mold her into. And Elle, who gave up everything for a man who deceived her, has a certain fragile glamour yet also a dated, naive, passive quality that gives the character a certain unresolved tension.

The novel is well plotted, with short, alternating chapters that shift in time so that the story unravels quickly—leaving a trail of tantalizing clues to follow. I also loved the bleak, slightly gothic setting and thought it was a great contrast to Suzi's fast-paced, liberated life in overcrowded London. My only criticisms are that the chapters told from the detective Alison's point of view didn't seem to fit all that well into the narrative. They are so brief and so far apart we don't get a sense of her and her presence seems almost unnecessary. And yet another part of me would have liked to have seen more of her character and more of a police angle to the story. I also think the ending had aspects that seemed a bit unlikely, but not to the point where it interfered with my enjoyment of the book. Overall, this is a gripping page-turner and I will definitely be reading McGowan's other novels.

Much thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

The Other Wife By Clare McGowan
I have rounded up my rating on this from 3.5 to give 4 stars.
There was a nice build up to the story, and a nice level of suspense. All in all, and enjoyable read.

It's been a while since I read a thriller, and now I wonder why. I loved this one, and think I should read more of them again!

While I figured out one part of the plot, the twitst it takes have put me on wrong ideas a couple of times. However, I must admit that I was very pleased with the way it turned out in the end. The last couple of chapters certainly made my stomach tie itself up in knots, since I rooted for many of the characters in the end.

This is a book I couldn't put down if I wanted to, it was so good.

The Other Wife is a psychological thriller that’s fast paced & intense, and will capture the reader’s attention on page 1! I love the way the author tells the story through multiple perspectives. By doing that, the characters are well developed and the storyline is vivid & detailed.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book, the differing points of view at the start were far too confusing and I really struggled to stay engaged so I am sorry to say that I could not stick with it till the end

Unfortunately when I tried to read this I struggled to get into the story. It will most likely have been a slump on my part and nothing to do with the story, author or style of writing. Due to the slump I had to put it aside.

Just when you think you have it figured out, things change! That’s how I felt when I was reading The Other Wife. I thought I knew what was going on and then something happens and I’m totally thrown off!

The novel flips between Suzi, Nora and Elle, but mostly focuses on Suzi and Nora who have just become next door neighbours. Everyone has their secrets, but not all secrets stay secret for very long. I quickly guessed what the relationship was between the three women, but was surprised on what had happened at the end. There is a murder (there’s always a murder!) and I was so torn on who the victim was and who the killer was. I didn’t guess that part right!

3 calculators out of a potential 5. If you are looking for a twisty ride with a couple of unlikeable characters, then you should check this out!

Thank you to Netgallery and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Suzi is pregnant and has her own secrets but she is stuck in an isolated cottage in the countryside with her possessive husband, Nick, always under his monitor. When Nora Halcombe moves in to the cottage beside Suzi, Suzi is finally happy to have a friend with whom she could lean towards. But Nora has her own secrets underneath her compassionate embrace. Meanwhile, Elle is a perfect housewife with a perfect husband who ends up betraying her. She has to deal with the consequences even if it means committing murder, after all, it isn't something new to her. As these three women unravel secrets and lies of past and present, they soon realise they have so much more in common then they would have imagined. As their paths cross, their lives alter unimaginably.

First off, after reading all the 'amazing' reviews this book has earned, I knew this book wouldn't let me down as "What You Did' did. Boy, was I wrong! Such a gripping storyline but the author could have done much more justice to it. Slow-paced, predictable and tiring, the story is told in 3 main narratives and 2 supporting narratives in 4 parts, the book turned out to be a complete letdown. Claire's writing made it a bit bearable but it was torture reading this book. Characters were good but the twists were predictable. In fact, it was cliched. I was immensely excited about the book after 'What You Did' turned out to be a bad read. But I am extremely disappointed. There was a certain aspect to the book which made me go on and hope it becomes better along the way but that aspect wasn't explored in a way it should have been.

It was okay as a one time read and I am terribly sad it isn't good enough for a second read. I just loved the storyline so much. I am utterly heartbroken. Giving this a 3.5 only because of the last two chapters and for those characters who deserved so much better. Or else this is a 2.5-star read.

Recommended: Most of the readers found this book incredible and even I would recommend it for the certain essence of it. You might love this book, who knows?

A haunting thriller brimming with unlikeable characters and a twisty plot? I'm all in. The Other Wife by Claire McGowan did NOT disappoint. I couldn't put it down. "Page Turner" was coined for novels like this one. Highly (highly!) recommend to anyone looking for a chilling domestic thriller.

The Other Wife had both the character development and sinister feel of a good thriller. Suzi and her husband move to a secluded home and a mysterious neighbor, Nora, moves into the cottage across the road. As the different perspectives tell their stories, the characters become less likable (in a good way). Unfortunately, the pointed hints to the reader made the twists of the story too predictable and when the story finally reached its end, the pieces of the puzzle fell too neatly into place, making for an unbelievable conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Claire McGowan for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

I received this book "The Other Wife" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I really didn't like the characters at all. The story moved slowly also. It was okay.

TY @netgalley for sending me an ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review. This does not effect my review in any way.

I wanted to LOVE this book, but for the first half of the book I was confused, as you are thrown a ton of characters written in multiple POV. I kept having to go back and try to remember details previously written from that character.

However at the same time the synopsis of the book has you knowing that there is more and that it all has to connect eventually, so you keep reading.

It’s not till your 1/4 the way through the book that you finally slowly connect 2 of the characters together.

Which is where I would say the book finally picks up.

1/2 way through the book is when things real start to click and your like ahhh it all makes sense now.

The ending kinda surprised me as I didn’t expect all that.

But overall I actually ended up loving the book.

Pretty good book, with several twists and turns. I think this book has a great premise, but it could have been developed more succinctly. I did find the characters interesting, and the story flowed well. I found it to be an easy read, and I will look for other books by Claire McGowan.

Suzi has left her big city living to stay at home at an isolated home in the country. She is completely alone until Elle moves down the road from her. Suzi is married to Tom who is obsessed with monitoring and following her every move, however she does not know until she tries to find the man she was having the affair with prior to her move. Things are definitely not what they seem and even Elle is part of it. I loved the pacing of this book and the many twists as the book progresses. There are a lot of people that are seemingly involved however they may or may not know that they are. The past is not the past anymore and someone is settling scores. I really like this author and am eager to read more from her. I will be recommending this book to others

What a ride! Loved this book from start to finish. I finished the book days ago and I am still thinking about it. I wish every book were as satisfying as The Other Wife!

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon UK Publishing for sending me a free copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this fro the beginning to the end.

Suzi is a pregnant wife, her husband Nick is very controlling. He isolates her from everyone she loves and her job, by moving her to the countryside. She meets her new neighbor Nora a widow with a hidden agenda. the story is told from three different perspectives and it is interested how they all intertwined.

Suzie lived in London, with a good job and plenty of nights out. However, her controlling husband makes the decision that they should move to an isolated cottage in the country. When Nora moves into the nearby house, the women form a friendship. However, not all is at it seems and when they get caught out in each other’s lies, Suzie doesn’t know whether Nora is a friend or foe! And who is Ellie and what is the secret that binds these women together?

The story switches easily between Suzie, Nora and Ellie and although I knew where this book was going most of the time, Claire kept me turning the pages with all the twists and turns. I did get annoyed at times with the mistakes Suzie kept making and I didn’t really like or trust any of the characters.

However, I enjoyed Claire’s style of writing and I will definitely be reading more of her books.

This book had a really great start, as it’s told from the perspective of three different women. We soon learn how tangled up their lives are and how they are connected. At times, I found it hard to keep reading because it became predictable but as I kept going, some twists were revealed and a newfound interest in the book had me in a hurry to figure out just what REALLY is going on here. Three women, two husbands, countless lies and secrets. With a really satisfying ending.

With thanks to Netgalley and Amazon for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I am a big fan of Claire McGowan`s Paula McGuire series. I was excited when I heard she had written a stand alone thriller.

The Other Wife is told from the POV of three women, Nora, Suzi and Elle.

Career girl Suzi lived in London with her husband Nick. After a drunken one stand with one of her collegues, Suzi reluctantly agreed to move to the countryside. Living in a remote cottage and no longer working, Suzi became lonely and started an affair with Sean Sullivan. When Suzi became pregnant she told Sean and never saw him again.

Months later Suzi was delighted when Nora moved in next door. Nora had been recently widowed, and had to move to a smaller house when her savings had dwindled. Heavily pregnant and lonely, Suzi and Nora quickly became friends.

Acclaimed pianist Elle, was married to Patrick a doctor. Elle suffered from anxiety issues and became convinced Patrick was going to leave her.

During the story the reader discovers how the stories of Suzi, Nora and Elle weave together.

The plot was a slow burner and didn't truly get going until the 40% mark. After that I found it hard to put down.

Although Suzi bought her problems on to hereself, I did understand why she she had an affair with Sean. Her husband Nick was a emotional abuser who constantly put her down. He deliberately moved to the countryside to isolate Suzi from her friends and work. Elle was an interesting character, she was clingy and her life revolved around Patrick. I did guess Nora`s secret but not until just before it was revealed.

The plot was skilfully woven with twists and turns aplenty. The ending was brilliant and the right people got what they deserved.

I highly recommend this book.

A good read was slow at times but definitely picked up! Would recommend for readers you live thrillers! Thankyou for the arc

The Other Wife is another psychological thriller book by Claire McGowan, about a mistress and the wife of the cheating husband and how their lives become entangled. Yet again, I found that I couldn't put this book down. I read it in two days and I absolutely loved it.

As with her previous novel, What You Did, I don't believe any of the characters in this book were really meant to be sympathetic. I can't say I really liked any of them, but that didn't stop me from loving the book. The drama, the fear, and the excitement of finding out what was going to happen next was perfect. I can't wait to read what the author comes out with next.

Trigger warnings: domestic abuse, stalking, murder, cheating, rape.

This book surprised me, i expected it to be the same formula but it had a lot more to it, i figured out the first twist pretty early but the twists kept coming. while the writing could have been sharper, more impactful, the story was engrossing. thanks for the ARC

Suzi is pregnant and isolated living in a cottage in the middle of nowhere with her controlling husband Nick. She also has a secret, she's been ghosted by her lover. When Nora, who is recently widowed, moves in Suzi is overjoyed with the possibility she will have a friend but is Nora really who she says she is?

As the story unfolds you learn more about their lives and how they intertwine.

Its's a slow burner but keeps you entertained to the end. It has secrets, lies, murder, deceit and gaslighting. You come away with the sobering thought about how easy it is in this digital age for your every move to be watched or monitored and how easy it could be to deceive or be deceived.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC

McGowan is fast becoming a household name with her breed of dark domestic thrillers that are so plausible they will make you squirm.

A woman's husband buys a house in the middle of nowhere, forcing her to move from London.
A widow on a tight budget moves into the house across the street.
Their connection is pretty obvious. Some good twists as the women unravel the truth behind both their marriages.

This was a great book, I loved it and thanks net galley for giving me the opportunity to read it.
Two woman and two husband.
One husband is a compulsive liar, the other husband is a control freak.
Somehow the two wives get together, and they work out what’s been happening in their lives.
That’s when this book really gets exciting, so exciting I could not put it down.
Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is mostly told from 3 perspectives. Suzy is pregnant and living with her husband in an isolated cottage. She has had an affair with someone who is now cold shouldering her. Nora is Suzy’s new neighbor. Elle is a woman who thinks her husband is having an affair. Suzy and Nora become friends but it isn’t a coincidence that Nora has moved in so close by.

I thought I had who these 3 women were worked out pretty early on. I was right because it was pretty obvious. So I was sort of disappointed at the half way point when all of that was revealed but then it took a bit of a turn and became more interesting as we waited to see how these relationships would play out. Overall I liked it and would probably read more from this author.

Wow, once you've got your head round who all the characters are in the plot, you're good to go and it is actually rather good. Pure coincidence that your lover's wife is a new neighbour of your new home? Awkward

This story is told through various characters. Suzi, Nora, Elle and Maddy. Theres blackmail, possessive husband, an ally of a neighbour or is she? It took me a little while to settle in to the story but I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. The tension just builds and builds. Great

I'll certainly be on the looking out for more of Claire McGowan's books. She has even done a series! I didn't realise her books were out there until I came across this one and investigated what other books she'd done.

It's that kind of domestic thriller that needs a captivating writing style to keep the reader on its toes. You need some time to get into the different POVs - too many for my taste - but once you're in you need a story getting on with pace - sadly that's not what happened here. The book had promise but didn't deliver as much as I hoped for. It was an ok-read , though - not more, not less.

I'll start by admitting that I very nearly gave up on The Other Wife by Claire McGowan very early into the book as I found the different POVs and dislikeable characters quite off-putting, but I'm glad I stuck with it as the book turned out to be a very enjoyable read with lots of fastpaced twists and turns.

I really enjoyed this book and my first time reading a book by this author. This is a difficult book to review without giving away spoilers. The first half of the book is told from three different women’s POV. Elle who is married to a doctor but unhappy, Suzie who is married to Nick but cheated on him and his pregnant and not sure who the father is. Also, is mentally abusive to Suzie and then a new neighbor moves across the street from Suzie, a woman named Nora who is recently widowed. The first major reveal happens halfway through the book and I didn’t seen it coming which for me reading a domestic thriller is a great thing, being surprised. Then there are more twists and turns. Fasten your seat belts for a roller coaster of a ride. The reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 was I felt the ending was a little rushed. But all in all I really liked the book and was pleasantly surprised by all the twists and turns that were still to come after the first reveal. I want to thank net galley for this ARC I received for an honest review.


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Suzi and Nora, 2 women living as neighbours in an isolated part of the countryside. Both women subjected to manipulative, controlling, lying husband's.
Suzi is pregnant and hiding a secret from her husband, her lover has recently been killed in a car accident.
Nora, a widow, who's husband has been killed in a car accident.
Suzi begins to confide in Nora but Nora is hiding secrets from her.
This story takes many twists and turns as the lies and complex lives of these women unfold.
Would highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book. A bit twisty and turns but not too much. It’s about three women, all living in an extremely close, isolated area with many secrets. They come out slowly, with none of the three expecting much. Well written and fairly exciting. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are…

Suzi and her husband Nick move out to an isolated cottage several miles from any major highway and far from their old home in London. With their marriage on the rocks and their first baby on the way, things appear very tense. Suzi is paranoid and restless. She’s done something that is unforgivable and if her jealous husband finds out, her whole world will collapse. Nora Holscombe, a recent widow, moves in next door to the only other cottage in the area. And then there is Elle, a perfect housewife who is betrayed by her husband who will stop at nothing to hold on to him. Soon Nora, Elle and Suzi’s lives will intertwine, but the only one who knows it is Nora, because she moved here to be close to Suzi and she knows her secret. Three months later, DC Alison Hegarty and DC Tom Khan are on scene where a murder has taken place. Through shifting points of view between Suzi, Nora and Elle we find a story latent with secrets and twists.

This book had promise and a great hook in the beginning. The different points of view and twists kept me reading. After every short chapter I had so many questions and found myself suspicious of all of the women. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable and felt the theme of abuse was forced in every character’s back story. Some characters weren’t fully fleshed out (i.e. Dr. Holt). The police investigation was not exactly resolved and the two detectives simply raised their hands up in the air, shrugging and went to have a beer. The last 20% of the book, everything is packed in with revelations, more twists and felt rushed. I liked the direction it was going but felt that at the end every plot point came too rapidly.

This is an engaging, if not quite original, domestic thriller that made me think a little of Lisa Jewell or Shalini Boland. The story is interesting and the characters feel real, but sometimes it dragged a little for me. All in all, though, an entertaining read!

This is the first book I have read by Clare McGowan and I will read others. The complex relationships between these characters and how their stories unfolded kept me reading. I was interested in finding out what happens to Suzi and if she ever decided to take matters into her own hands.