I’m going to keep this short and sweet because the less you know prior to reading this one the better. Publishers, take note, The Wife Between Us is a lesson in how to write a blurb, because what reading the blurb does is spur the reader on, it makes you eager to get through the pages of this novel to find out the facts. This novel starts off slow, but with each page, the anticipation builds; you do exactly what the blurb tells you not to do – you make assumptions, and you may even, like me, be confident you’ve got it figured out. You’re eager for the bomb to drop, and when it does, it’s genius – and I was completely wrong in my assumption.

What’s great about The Wife Between Us is, you don’t have to wait till the end of the novel for things to become clearer, and you’ll think you know everything, but what follows is a heap of mini twists that allow everything to fit together perfectly. I’m purposely avoiding talking about anything that happens in this novel because you’ve got to read it for yourself, I don’t even want to hint at anything that happens, as the lure towards this novel comes from you wondering what’s going to catch you off guard next. But know that through-out the read, I was nodding my head in approval at the cleverness of it all.

Essentially, The Wife Between Us is Domestic Noir, but it’s one that takes you on a crazy ride due to all the ‘aha-moments’, rather than the quickening of the pace or the depth of the plot. I’m always curious when two authors write a novel together because I wonder if it’ll be noticeable due to the read being disjointed or if they will be able to come together as ‘one-voice.’ I’m pleased to report, Hendricks and Pekkanen have penned a fab novel that’s perfect for fans of the crazy plot twist.

WOW what a really brilliant book! I devoured it in one day. I loved the way it kept me off balance and I kept having to reassess what I previously thought. A well deserved 5 stars and I can’t wait to read more from this talented team.

The Wife Between Us is one of the best thrillers I've read in a while. It's a cliche, but I really couldn't put it down. The main character is believable and the tension built up through the book is true to life and genuinely nerve wracking. I would highly recommend this to any fan of mystery/thrillers.

Very cleverly written story with a lot of unexpected twists. This book is too good not to read

A great read, this book focuses on a jilted wife and her new replacement. The 'has been' wife is obsessed with the new bride to be, but not for the reasons you think. About a third of the way into the book, there is great wow moment that makes you completely re-evaluate the way you were looking at the characters. It took me totally by surprise and I found myself re-reading that part to make sure I'd understood the revelation! From here the story really took off with more and more flashbacks revealing true details of the marriage and what lead to the current situation. There are plenty of twists and turns right up until the last page.

This book starts with a strong but steady paced storyline and a range of interesting and well described characters. There are a few clues that all is not as it seems and cracks start to appear in the lead characters.
Then at about 40% into the book, the plot heats up and all I can say is wow.
With lots of exciting twists and turns this book was a compulsive read which slightly left my head reeling. A cleverly written book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest and independent review.
4.5****

Awesome, astounding, breath-taking, gobsmacking .. all words I've toyed with to describe this novel and yet I feel I haven't quite got there yet . . .

This is the story of the broken relationship between Nellie and her husband Richard. We begin the book seeing her as a broken woman whose life has fallen apart following their divorce and her discovery that Richard is engaged to a younger version of herself. Now, whilst I think that's a fair assessment of the opening chapters, please don't expect me to describe the remainder as I'm still reeling from how things play out! Just remember the advice in the book blurb . . .

I note that this is the first collaboration between the authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Please don't let it be the last! This is a cleverly plotted and superbly written novel. Just when you think you have worked out what's going on, realisation hits you that you really haven't a clue. And it is simply terrific. If you want something different from anything you have ever read before, then THIS IS IT!!! This is one where I really wish there were more than five stars available.

My sincere thanks to publishers Macmillan for approving me for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

There is a lot packed into this story. There is a lot happening and a lot of twists in the plot. It is a very cleverly thought out story that has been well put together from start to finish. However, I have read a few books with similar plots which are better.

I had heard a lot about this book. I was intrigued from the beginning of The Wife Between Us. Throughout I was guessing as to what the outcome would be, which wasn't what I expected and nor was I disappointed with. I did find it confusing in parts as to who was who but it did hold my interest.

My main thought theoughout thia books was that Richard was a complete control freak and why anyone of these women would even want to marry this caveman is beyond me! Vanessa and Emma were just as calculating as Richard! The pacing was quite off with this book. Up until the halfway point the pace was good and gripping enough to keep me intrigued (at this point the book was a solid 4.5/5) but from the 60% mark the pace slowed way down and it became a struggle to finish it. It picked up again around the 85% mark but the most interesting part of this story was the epilogue, which in my opinion should've been incorporated as part of the main story to up the intrigue.

A brilliant compelling book. Loved how it unfolded with so many twists and turns and ups and downs.
I read this book in two days, the story was an absolute page turner. I loved how the authors wrote this in such a way that I was constantly surprised and had no idea how the story was going to end.
The Wife Between Us is a story with dark and chilling moments and it will have you gripped to the pages.
Would highly recommend this book and will definitely read more by these talented authors.

Thank you!

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. There were some fabulous twists that I could not have seen coming. I even re-read some sections to see if I had missed something but it was so cleverly written it was easy to think that. I would recommend this book to all of my friends.

Wow I am almost breathless having just finished this book, what a book...... I could hardly keep up with the plot it was very clever very twisty and really unpredictable .Everything I look for in a thriller, I loved it.I liked the main character I did work out a tiny bit of the plot but there were so many clever twists that I couldn't read it fast enough , you will lose sleep with this book I certainly did.I also couldn't wait to pick it up and keep reading it made me think and kept me guessing. No spoilers from me but this is a really cracking thriller it is well written and just about everything I look for in a book of this genre.I can't recommend it enough.Thanks so much to the Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC.

This book left me underwhelmed - it was slow and repetitive, with unoriginal characters and plot lines. I didn't enjoy the writing style, the main twist was weak, obvious and didn't really change anything in the story. This one wasn't for me.

The Wife Between Us is a tense thriller that has a few shocking reveals for the reader, although I have guessed most of it I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it and especially in the last quarter of the book I was on the edge of my seat as the atmosphere was so tense between the characters.
The story is told between Vanessa and Nellie. Vanessa's husband Richard just left her and she's trying to put the pieces of her shattered life together. She is depressed, on the verge of being an alcoholic, staying with her aunt and trying to not to get fired from her new job. Nellie on the other hand, just fell in love with Richard and preparing to get married. Two woman is linked by Richard- but is everything as it seems?

I can't say more, as I am scared to reveal. I read this book nearly in one sitting as it was really unputdownable. There were things I didn't like in the plot, but I think altogether it was structured very cleverly.

Not at all what I was expecting! Some lovely twists in this tale. Highly recommend.

This was such an excellent book I found it very hard to put down. A tremendous plot with so many twists right up to the very end, which I didn't expect and which left me totally gobsmacked.
A must read and fully recommended.

Ex-wives. ex-girlfriends and ex-partners in general, they tend to get a bad rap. Their wickedness is legendary, their legacy leaves behind a vast trail of destruction or rather that is what a lot of their ex- partners would have you believe. It is easy to demonize the woman, or man of course, but for the purpose of this story and review I will stick with women, and to blame her for the shambles of a marriage.

Nellie appears to be the needy and jealous type. She is obsessed with her replacement, the younger perkier new fiancé of her ex-husband. She stalks her in an attempt to be part of a life she no longer belongs to, her old life. Her house, her money, her family and her husband. To the reader she appears to be the epitome of a stalker waiting for the right moment to strike.

I found myself identifying with Vanessa when it came to her seemingly drastic approach to sever ties with her hubby. The abusive, controlling person will never concede control unless it is done on their terms, regardless whether that means via divorce, an ocean between you or death.

As long as they have the last word and action in your emotional and often physical demise they feel satisfied that they have retained control over you and your life. This includes maligning your name and reputation, trying to take away what matters the most to you, which is often the children, and any kind of financial stability. Control is the beginning and the end of this type of abusive relationship. If he or she doesn’t have the upper hand or makes the checkmate move, then the abused person may find themselves in mortal peril. At the very least they can expect a lifetime of continued harassment. Sounds dire, right? Well it is.

The Wife Between Us is an accurate portrayal of what certain people want you to believe and then somewhere hidden behind closed doors is the actual truth. The next time you hear a story about a crazy vindictive ex just keep in mind that you are only hearing one side of the story or the conveniently edited version of the story. Abusive charmers can be very persuasive and convincing.

One of the most interesting aspects of the story, and I believe the one the abused don’t think about and can’t afford to think about, is the replacement. You either have to be cold-hearted enough to walk away and never look back or you can try and warn them about what is coming straight for them, bearing in mind that they would never believe you, because hey you’re just the crazy obsessive ex.

Hendricks and Pekkanen have managed to create a compelling intense read, which doesn’t have to rely on exaggerated scenarios, because it’s a story that happens all the time. This is reality. Hopefully it will encourage others to look beyond the shallow gossip and to think twice about passing judgement.

Rule number one - never make assumptions, this book will challenge them all!

An absolutely addictive page turner, fabulous writing with brilliantly drawn characters and such clever twists and timely reveals - I'm afraid to say anything more as any spoilers will ruin this book, which for me more than lived up to the hype surrounding it.

Just
Read
It

5 massive stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I really loved this book. Told from the perspective of the new fiancee and the ex wife, it seems like the ex wife is out to sabotage this woman's life and steal her husband back. There are many twists and turns throughout the book and it always keeps you guessing. The book is well written and a total page turner.