Member Reviews

Holy cow. A book that starts so tame turns into a wild ride at the end. I’m such a fan of the author’s detective Mackenzie Price, so I thought I’d try one of her stand alone novels.

It seemed a little familiar at the start and I was sure I knew where this one was headed. And I was wrong. There were a few zinger twists, that while they may not be the most plausible, I give credit anytime I am bamboozled.

While there are multiple narrators, the beginning is focused on Anna and the watcher. The watcher is one of those unnamed characters that the reader gets a chance to try and figure out who they could be.

I knew there was something off about Anna and Cary but I couldn’t’ decide if it was that she was willing to move so quickly with a man whose wife was missing and presumed dead or if there was more to it. This hook had me and I raced through the book to the roller coaster finish to see if I could figure it out.

Aside from Harper, Cary’s daughter, I am not sure I liked any of the characters. But that is not a deal breaker for me in a domestic suspense. It makes it easier for me to accept their terrible behavior.

I loved that the audiobook had two female narrators. it made it so easy to follow the focus of the chapters. Penelope Rawlins and Kelly Burke did a great job narrating and their voices really fit the characters they voiced.

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Wow! This is a must read! This book reminds me of the wife upstairs mixed with a tiny amount of behind closed doors (but not that extreme). I stayed intrigued in this book the whole time, I never knew what was going to happen. The twists kept coming and were leaving me feeling baffled. I read a lot of books, and I never guessed the ending to this one. Highly recommend, and don’t let the trigger warnings scare you off, this one was mild imo compared to others.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an ARC audiobook. These narrator’s did an amazing job telling the story. Their voices for the characters were great! It was easy to follow.

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Wow! Although the story could become confusing at times, I found the ride to be a lot of fun. I was drawn in to His Last Wife quickly and stayed interested during the entirety of the book. There were definitely times I felt it dragged a bit; however, whenever a new twist or turn arrived it was very exciting. This was such a roller coaster ride. I thought the story had ended (satisfyingly so!) two different times before it actually did. This was my first book by Ruhi Choudhary and I’m going to check out her detective series next.

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Anna, Cary, and his adorable daughter Harper make up a picture-perfect family. However, Anna constantly feels like she's living in the shadow of Cary's abducted wife, Presley. Presley's mother and friends don't hide their dislike for Anna and have clarified that they don't think she fits into Cary's world.

While I was initially captivated by the book's first few chapters, my interest began to dwindle in the middle. The first big reveal happened prematurely, in my opinion, making it less exciting for me. However, the story did become more engaging towards the end and ultimately delivered a shocking twist that left me speechless.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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WHOA! What did I just read?! This book was CRAZY…in the best way possible! I was completely captivated by this audiobook. The characters are well developed, but unreliable. I thought I had them all figured out, but I was wrong. The ending wrapped this story together perfectly. I had to re-listen to the big reveal to make sure I heard correctly! My mouth was wide open and I gasped so loud I scared my daughter. There were twists all throughout the book that were unexpected, and the ending definitely didn’t disappoint.

This book was masterfully written, and the plot was delivered in a way that kept you wanting more and needing to know what was going to happen. I just knew I had the Watcher figured out. This was a book full of mystery, lies, secrets, and betrayal. I am definitely a new fan of Rudi Choudhary!!

Penelope Rawlins, Kelly Burke did a great job with the narration and really bought this book to life!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this great ALC in exchange for my honest review!

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Such an amazing book. Such a twist I would’ve never expected! Kept me wanting to read more and more!

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4/5 Stars! Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook of His Last Wife by Ruhi Choudhary narrated by Penelope Rawlins and Kelly Burke.

The narrators did a great job narrating this story. This is my first book by this author and it was unique. At first, it was slow dragging but once you got the idea of what was going on, the plot twists, and ending were not expected. The different POV were good and love that in books lately. It quickly became an easy audiobook purge and the kept me on edge after the beginning hump.

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His Last Wife 4.5

I honestly thought I had everything figured out with this book, but boy was I wrong. The twist at the end made my jaw drop. I did not expect things to go that way or for the reveal...WOW!

I wish I could say more but I truly don't want to risk giving anything away and spoiling anything for future readers. All I can say is nothing is as it seems and you'll feel very conflicted who you root for.

My biggest issue with this book was the different narrators. Although it made sense especially to differ between two important characters in the story. The tones of voices used for Juliet (Presley's mom) and the next-door neighbors threw off the flow of the story. It would have been nice if both voice actors tried to maintain similar voices for the characters to not confuse the listener.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me listed to this audio ARC.

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Loved this audio book , Lots of twists and turns and a good finish that I was not expecting at all

Will look out for more by this author

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Wow! Twist after twist after twist. I didn't expect this book to be so amazing; I really enjoyed listening to it. This is my first book by Ruhi Choudhary and definitely not my last, and it has vibes of "The Housemaid," "The Last Mrs. Parrish," and "The Wife Upstairs." As the narrative progressed to Part 3, it shifted towards a "Gone Girl" feel. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio, and Ruhi Choudhary, also to the narrators - Penelope Rawlins, Kelly Burke. Truly, it was a rollercoaster experience for me.

What if the perfect life you're living is built on someone else's nightmare? "His Last Wife" by Ruhi Choudhary drags you into a seemingly idyllic household haunted by shadows of the past, where every corner whispers a new secret.
After the mysterious disappearance of his first wife Presley, who is believed dead, Cary finds new love with Anna, who swiftly takes on the role of both wife and mother to his young daughter, Harper. Despite her best efforts, Anna finds herself trapped under the suffocating guise of the perfect wife, a role forged and perfected by Presley. Living with Cary's hostile mother-in-law only heightens the tension, turning every day into a battleground for acceptance in their upscale community. But the discovery of Presley's diary reveals disturbing truths that may unravel Anna’s new life and Cary’s carefully crafted lies. "His Last Wife" stands tall in the psychological thriller genre, weaving together elements of domestic noir with chilling efficacy. In comparison to other books in this genre, Choudhary successfully employs a deep psychological undercurrent that elevates the narrative beyond typical domestic scenarios, echoing the haunting allure of Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl" and the intricate familial betrayals of Liane Moriarty's "Big Little Lies." The characters in "His Last Wife" are crafted with a sense of duality that keeps you guessing. Anna is both vulnerable and determined, making her easy to root for against the overt hostility of her new environment. Her relationship with Harper is particularly touching, adding a layer of emotional sincerity to the story. Cary, with his mysterious and manipulative demeanor, encapsulates the perfect antagonist cloaked in the guise of a grieving widower. The characters evolve convincingly, revealing their complexities slowly and deliciously. "The plot of 'His Last Wife' captures your attention immediately, building tension through unexpected revelations and shifting loyalties. It delves into themes like identity, trust, and the illusion of perfection, providing a deep look at the harm caused by idealizing others. The story concludes satisfyingly, resolving a complex network of deception and doubt. Choudhary skillfully manages the story's pace, which fluctuates to maintain interest, though it occasionally slows to develop the psychological aspects of the characters. The writing is clear and impactful, making the story immersive and the characters' dialogues realistic and lively. After finishing 'His Last Wife,' I felt both fulfilled and reflective. The book takes you on an emotional ride that is both engaging and entertaining. It stands out in the psychological thriller genre, combining suspense and emotional richness in a well-executed plot. It's highly recommended for anyone looking for a gripping, thought-provoking read. Dive into this book to explore the complexities of a seemingly perfect life."

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Thank you NeyGalley and publisher for this audio.

This was my first book by this author. I wasn’t sure what to expect but wow!! That plot twist was not what I was expecting lol it was so good!! Very well written.

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Thank you to Bookouture Audio, NetGalley, and author Ruhi Choudhary for the chance to listen to this exciting thriller early. I stayed up late because I just had to know how the book was going to end—and wow! I was shocked by how good it was!
Anna has what looks like a perfect life—a loving husband, a beautiful home and an adorable child—but they are not really hers! They still belong to his last wife, Presley, and her mother Judith makes sure to let her know that everyday. Anna tried to fit in with the neighbors and she also is trying to find out the truth about what happened to Presley. When she finds Presley’s diary she’s shocked to find that her husband may have had a hand in her disappearance and her wellbeing is in danger.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend this to anyone looking for a psychological thriller.

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I didn’t love this book at first but the stars started accumulating as it went on and OMG did it ramp up toward the end! No spoilers here but it was almost impossible to write this review without them. I’m desperate to discuss this book with anyone who will listen!

I was puzzled by every twist and turn and beyond shocked by the ending. If anyone says they saw it coming, they didn’t.

This was my first Ruhi Choudhary book. I wasn’t blown away by her writing style but the story itself made up for it. I’ll definitely check out her other titles.

I recommend this book if you’e into domestic thrillers, psychological thrillers and/or suspense.

4.3 rounded down to 4.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

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His last wife bye Ruhie Choudhary That starts with Anna who meets carry a surgeon and also a single father to 10 month old Harper, who Anna instantly falls in love with. If only their love story wasn’t mard by his first wife who went missing from their palatial home. The same home Carrie moves Anna into which he finally decides to be a family with him and Harper and oh yes his missing wife’s mother Juliet also lives there. They only reason I upped the rating to three stars is because of the ending at many points from the beginning I would’ve packed my things moved out of the house baby or no baby but she stays and is treated like trash from Juliet most of the neighbors but the longer she stays the more clues she finds by the end you will ask yourself is she staying because she wants justice or is she just biding her time until it’s her move? They have many twists and turns in this domestic thriller buy an author I have never read before and there is nothing more I’d like in a thriller then good twist there were some eye rolling moments but despite that I still recommended it for the ending if anything. This is a twisty piece of work I want to thank Bookoucher audio for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

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This is a domestic drama full of hideous characters doing odious, repulsive things.

Readers will have to completely suspend disbelief at this mishmash timeline with all of the nasty people involved.

Anna meets Cary Danvers when he is a patient seeing a therapist after his wife went missing and is presumed dead. There is nothing about Anna that matches Dr. Danvers’ social position, yet he becomes romantically involved with her and takes her home to meet his infant daughter. Soon they are living together. Unfortunately, his missing wife, the perfect Presley Scott, still looms large over the household, especially since her mother, Juliet, lives there too. But it’s Anna’s complete obsession taking over the daughter, Harper, and becoming her “mommy” that really sends this novel into the next dimension. You know what happens next is not going to be good. In fact, it’s beyond terrible.

The novel is divided into several parts with different points of view. I listened to the audio version while reading along and it was difficult to tell who was speaking at times. As previously stated, the characters were all deplorable with their secrets, lies, and actions.

Thank you to Bookouture for providing the ARC copies for me to read and review. This was not my cup of tea.

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My mind was absolutely blown away by this book!! The twists were well worth the wait! I did not see any of them happening!!! They were all unexpected and epic!!!

Anna meets the man of her dreams Cary. He's recently widowed and has a young child. Anna is swept away into a fabulous rich life with Cary. She's now living in a big beautiful home with Cary, his daughter and his mother in law. All thr neighbors were close with Cary and Presley so Anna has a lot of work ahead to fit into her new life. But this fancy life is not as great as she had expected. I don't dare say more because I don't want to give any spoilers!

Slightly slow to get going but once all the characters are built and the story really starts to unravel it is AMAZING!!
If you love a jaw dropping twist, this is the book for you.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audiobook. The narrators were amazing!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so many twists and turns. I was in awe and did not see that ending coming. I really enjoyed the watcher chapters as they were chilling and creepy. This was a great thriller.

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I listened to the Audiobook version of this novel and it took me a bit of time to warm up to the characters and figure out who was who. But once I settled in, the storyline had me intrigued. Of course I thought I had it figured out a few times. The book picked up in the second half. I wanted to give this 3.5 stars, but can only give full stars, not half star ratings. I will be looking for another by this author to read.

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Absolutely gripping psychological thriller with unexpected twists🤩 It kept me on the edge wondering to be shocked with the unexpected secrets. The amazing narration highlighted the great plot.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ALC.

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Woahhh, you think you know what's going on and then BAM!!!
This book really pulls you in and then smacks you in the face with the WHAT THE FUUUUdge!

Publisher's summary
“Do not go in there, Anna. Never go in there.” The words ring in my head as I pick the lock to the only room in the house that the man I love tells me I’m not allowed to enter. Trembling as I step inside, I’m about to finally find out what happened to his last wife…
Everyone thinks my life is bliss. The love of my life, Cary, and I live in our dream home and we have a beautiful little girl, Harper. I may not have given birth to her, but I’m her mommy now. But there’s one thing we never talk about…
Cary’s wife before me, Presley, was perfect in every way. But she went missing a long time ago. Cary was distraught when he told me how she was abducted from her car, leaving behind a pool of blood. No one saw a thing.
The neighbors are always gossiping about Presley. I try to ignore them, but one day I hear something that makes my stomach flip. Presley was abducted from her home. The home I now live in. Cary lied to me about the car. But why?
As I search our beautiful home for answers, I stumble across Presley’s diary. My heart thunders in my chest as I discover the truth: Cary had something to do with his wife’s disappearance. And I’m terrified I might be next.
But Cary doesn’t know that I have a secret too. He doesn’t know how far I’ve gone to get this perfect life, and how much further I’ll go to keep it…

Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio or the ALC of this book!

His Last Wife
By: Ruhi Choudhary
Narrated by: Kelly Burke, Penelope Rawlins
Publisher: Hachette UK - Bookouture
Release date: 04-25-24

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