I know when I pick up one of Daniel Hurst’s books, I am in for a fast-paced twisty ride, so imagine my surprise when he lulled me into a slow burn marital drama instead of a twisty thriller. But don’t worry, it all picked up part way through and kept me on my toes. I’ve read quite a few of his books and I liked this change of pace. While I saw the very last twist coming, there were a few that caught me off guard. I have to say I’ve read a few books lately that you don’t have to wait for the twist at the end. You never know where they might happen and I think that’s a plus.

You don’t read his books for the loving characters, so don’t get put off by the unlikeable couple at the center of this. Once things start to happen, you are invested to know the outcome. Not too many details here so as to not spoil anything but trust me you’ll want to know. Their dual narration allows you to know both sides of their marital woes. And at times it seems like Fern is telling you the story as a friend.

I was both listening and reading the book, as time permitted, and I thought both Sarah Durham and David Wayman did an excellent job bringing Fern and Drew to life.

I think of the author’s books as part of the popcorn thriller genre that aren’t too long, move quickly and keep you guessing. If you love that in a book, you should pick this one up.

Dr. Drew Devlin, is a GP living in Manchester with his wife, Fern. Thinking their life is fine, Drew has now said he wants to leave Manchester for the quieter town of Arberness overlooking the Solway Firth between England and Scotland. Fern has always been a city girl but she knows how edgy Drew has been the last few months and finally agrees to a move. He is ecstatic. They buy a large home across from the beach and Drew settles into an office being the only doctor in the town. As Fern has never worked, she plans to meet people in her new neighborhood and make friends.

Ah, but Drew has been hiding a secret and he doesn’t think Fern knows about it, but of course she does. Flipping back and forth in time, we see how the plot builds and who the players are. What seems like a common slip-up in marriage ends up deadly.

It’s hard to write a review here without giving out spoilers, so I apologize for my brief synopsis here. Suffice to say neither Drew nor Fern are the wonderful couple they hope people will find them. Drew is a very naughty man but Fern takes the cake. She’s a cold-hearted, scary woman. A very good thriller here. Don’t miss it!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed this book!!!! I connected with Fern and the description of the small town was spot on. I wanted to know how things turned out with the plot and while I really enjoyed the book I felt like the epilogue was unnecessary and did not add to the storyline.

A lovely and quick read is The Doctor's Wife by Daniel Hurst and I received a review copy from Bookouture via Netgalley. It came out on the 31st of January.

A perfect marriage - at first glance. However, Fern knows the secrets of her husband Drew. He doesn't know this. He thinks he's the perfect liar, covering his tracks deviously but oblivious to the things his own wife does.

This was quite the ride. The story is told from two perspectives, Drew's and Fern's. And that's also a strong point of this book. It was a bit predictable at the start, but the further I got, the more interesting it became. And the twist ... Loved it!

4/5⭐

Right from the word go I was drawn into this twisty drama.

The prologue of a dead body being found on the beach, although we didn't know who it was, was a massive spoiler that ruined the thrill a little. But the epilogue son made up for it and made it all worth it, as they say karma has an awful habit of catching up with you when you least expect it.

The pace flows well, the plot was addictive and the characters certainly kept you guessing.

I found The Dr's Wife to be a fairly quick read. It's engaging and definitely enjoyable.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Drew and Fern move to a small village in Scotland it isn't long before it soon becomes the biggest mistake they will ever make.

This novel is told from two different points of view, with the chapter switching between the main characters of Fern and Drew.

This is my second novel by Hurst and, as before, this author has me cheering for the villain.

I did guess one section but Hurst does not give hints until this author is ready for the reader to find out.

Another fantastic thriller by this author.

EXCERPT: As the woman at the window watched the activity on the beach, she knew the body on the sand was going to be the event that turned this quiet seaside village into a hive of activity for several days to come. This isolated place was usually only frequented by local residents, delivery drivers from the nearby towns and the occasional tourist passing in and out of Scotland. Now it would be teeming with forensic experts, journalists and bystanders harbouring a morbid curiosity.
That was the thing about the appearance of a body in an unexpected place.
It demanded attention.
And it always got it.

ABOUT 'THE DOCTOR'S WIFE': He thinks his secret is safe. But she knows the truth…

My husband is a doctor. He’s smart and charming and everybody trusts him. Except me.

On the surface, it looks like I have it all – the perfect marriage, the perfect husband, the perfect life. But it’s far from the truth.

Doctor Drew Devlin is not the respectable figure he makes out to be. The reason we moved to this beautiful, old property with a gorgeous view of the sea was because we needed to put our past behind us. It should’ve been a fresh start for us both.

Except I’ve discovered my husband has been lying to me again. He’s using the power he has in his job to mess with people’s lives, and to get exactly what he wants – no matter who it hurts.

But he’s underestimated me. I’ve had plenty of time, in this big, isolated house, to think about all of his mistakes.

And my husband has no idea what’s about to happen next…

MY THOUGHTS: Which character did I dislike the most? I honestly don't know!

I initially felt sorry for Fern, until she started to reveal her true colours. I disliked Drew throughout. I could have felt sorry for Alice, but I don't. I do feel sorry for Rory. He was the true victim in all of this. He was easily manipulated by Fern, who is diabolically clever, and cold-hearted.

The story is told from the points of view of both Fern and Drew, covering both the present and the couple's past in Manchester.

Don't come into The Doctor's Wife looking for a mystery, or a 'whodunit' - you know who's doing what. The big question is, are they going to get away with it?

There are multiple twists and turns in this quick, entertaining read. There's no depth to the characters, but in this case, it really doesn't matter. I always finish Daniel Hurst's books with a smile on my face, and I certainly did with The Doctor's Wife, which ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. Normally I don't particularly like cliffhanger endings, but in this case it was the perfect way to end and leaves the reader to decide whether or not the killer gets the comeuppance they deserve.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

#TheDoctorsWife #Bookouture

I: @danielhurstbooks @bookouture

T: @dhurstbooks @Bookouture

THE AUTHOR: Writer/wanderer.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing both an audio and digital ARC of The Doctor's Wife, written by Daniel Hurst and narrated by Sarah Durham and David Wayman, for review. All opinions expressed in the review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my profile page on Goodreads.com or the about page on Sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also posted on Twitter, Instagram, Amazon and my webpage

The Doctor’s Wife

Thank you Bookouture for inviting me on this Blog Tour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook and Audiobook
Date Published: 1/31/23
Author: Daniel Hurst
Publisher: Bookouture
GR: 4.18

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This is a perfect psychological thriller. Gripping, captivating, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Hurst has a way of pulling you into the book and not putting it down until the last page. His storytelling abilities are absolutely amazing. Looking from the outside, Drew and Fern appear to have the perfect marriage. He is a doctor, while she is the stay-at-home wife. Drew has a secret that he believes no one else knows about. Fern has her husband’s ticket as she knows his secret. I do not want to give to much away and even cut out some of what Goodreads put in the synopsis.

The story is narrated in a dual POV by Fern and her husband, Drew, I loved this aspect. Drew is manipulative, charming, and selfish. Where Fern, is the good wife, stays in the background, does things quietly. The quiet types are the ones to look out for. The characters were well developed with depth, were secretive, and creatively blended into the story. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, and just brilliant. The story starts with character building, delivers the plot in different twists, and the ending is just amazing.

I devoured this story in under 48 hours, the audiobook was truly amazing. I found this story to be less of a mystery and more of a domestic drama mixed with thriller. Still a fantastic read that I very much enjoyed. If you like Shari Lapena’s Not a Happy Family, you will love this one; while different premises, same concept of domestic thriller. I highly recommend this book in audio format to get the true effect of the characters.

This is my first book from this author and I was not disappointed.

It has dual POVs which is always a great way to tell a story. The characters Drew and Fern were fleshed out enough.

The story had tension moments from the start and a great twist at the end of the story.

It started a bit slow but then it picked up almost immediately.

BOOKWORMS REVIEW:
Dr. Drew Devlin and Wife Fern are moving at Drews suggestion...from busy Manchester to idyllic village Arberness. Its quite the change,and his motives are not the actions of a loving husband either. He wants to be close to his fancy woman,and thinks his wife has no clue. But bitten before with his lies,Fern is not to be fooled again,and is more aware of what's going on than her darling husband gives her credit for. The other woman has finished with the doctor to go back to her husband,but he's not letting go easy..so there's that obsessive vibe going on here which is good,in a book!
There's no huge surprises or twists,but even though it's a little predictable it's enjoyable and an easy read. With thanks to Daniel Hurst Bookouture and NetGalley for an arc ro read and review.

BOOKWORMS RATING: 3.5 Rounded up..📒📒📒📒

Another really good read from Daniel Hurst. I love his style of writing and the fact that his books are so easy to pick up and get stuck into. The Doctor's wife had me hooked from the first page. Daniel has a great way of creating these really unlikeable characters. Most of the time you don't know who's side you're on. I did guess a fair bit of the plot early on in the book but the couple of twists before the end did surprise me. Really recommend this book. Looking forward to Mr. Hurst's next release.

Excellent story. Well thought out plots and schemes. I did like the characters, even the cheating ones were likeable people. This author always gives a good reading experience.

I was so disappointed with this book! While the premise is there for something riveting, it seemed like the author took the easy way out, leaving a lot of holes in his wake.

Wow! This book had me hooked from the start and I could not put it down. There was plenty of twist to keep things interesting and well developed characters. Highly recommend!

Secrets and lies! Oh, what a tangled web we weave. Daniel Hurst has done it again! He knocked my socks off with this gripping and well written book. I devoured this book as I did not want to put it down. I was fully invested in the plot and swiping those pages as fast as I could.

Doctor Drew Devlin and his wife Fern, appear to be the perfect happily married couple. But looks can be deceiving, can't they? The couple has recently moved from Manchester to village of Arberdeen on the coast. When the good doctor suggested the move, he said he was looking for a quieter lifestyle, or was he looking for something else?

Oh, là là - Things are about to get juicy!

Drew has a secret, or does he? Fern knows that her husband has been lying to her AGAIN. He thinks he is so smooth, so smart but perhaps he is not as smart as he thinks.

WOWZA! I really enjoyed this book. I found it hard to put down and I couldn't read this fast enough to see how things were going to turn out. This book was very entertaining, and I loved how devious the characters were. There is a nice amount of tension flowing throughout the book.

This book played out like a moving in my mind. I loved the descriptions of the setting and characters. Speaking of the characters, they were ones I loved to hate. This was such a fun read/listen. I had both the book and the audiobook. The narrators did a fantastic job and added to my enjoyment of the book.

Hurst has become a go-to author for me. I know that I am in for a gripping and rewarding ride. This book was a gripping page turner which was so entertaining and fun.

Gripping, tense and a riveting page turner!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was really faced paced, quick read. I was hooked from the beginning and I definitely didn’t want to put it down. The story is somewhat predictable but there was one twist I didn’t see coming. The husband Doctor Drew Devlin was so creepy. His chapters were my favorite because he seems so clueless and some parts were almost funny. He think he’s so smart and can get away with everything. I’m glad we got both his and his wife’s point of view. The wife Fern was a little more likable but not much. I liked how the characters both were lying and neither one realized the other was. In real life I don’t like the lying and cheating but in books I definitely do! Overall I enjoyed this thriller and recommend it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review an early copy of Daniel Hurst’s new thriller, The Doctor’s Wife.

This was a short and fun domestic thriller with unlikeable and unreliable characters, that had you hating them every step of the way but being so intrigued you can’t put the book down.

I found the twists at the end to be well executed, even if it were a tad obvious. There were so many things I wanted to learn about the main character, Fern, that I didn’t which keeps the element of surprise I guess! The story didn’t drag on, there was no filler material, and it got right to the point. Now that is a thriller I prefer!

I definitely am interested in reading more books by this author.

My second book by @danielhurstbooks and he is fast becoming a favourite. Luckily for me, he is a prolific writer and has written lots of books for me to read 👏🏽

This one is about the perfect couple, in the perfect little village… the author puts his on spin on the classic lesson that we never really know what goes on in other peoples relationships.

This book is a super easy read - no long complicated storylines are needed to make this a page turner. And as with his last book I read, there is a lovely little twist at the end.

If you are looking for a fast paced intense psychological thriller, then The Doctor’s Wife is for you. The book is told from two different perspectives – Drew the Doctor and his wife Fern. Drew convinces his wife to move to Manchester a very small village (away from the big city life) stating that it will give them more time to be together as a couple. Things are not as rosy as them seem, both Drew and Fern have their secrets; and Fern is not nearly is naïve as she would seem.
The book was predictable, but had a good twist at the end.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Excellent read.

The story is suspenseful and twisty from the beginning to the end. The plot is well developed and brilliantly wrote by Daniel Hurst. Characters are well designed and are involved throughout all the story.
Two people, Dr Drew and Fern, a husband and his wife, report dual point of views on events regarding their daily lives including adultery, murder, revenge and more. The ending was not predictable and comes at you all at once.

I highly recommend this book for fans of mysteries and thrillers