When one evening a police car stops in front of their house, Lucy immediately has a bad feeling. Her mother-in-law Diana has been found dead and the police treats it as a homicide. But why? Could there have been foul play? Well, Diana wasn’t somebody you instantly loved when you got to know her, you maybe never loved her and she, on the other hand, didn’t hide her despise for anybody outside her closest family circle. Lucy remembers how she first met the old, wealthy woman, recalls scenes of her family life when, again and again, Diana gave her the impression of being the wrong wife for her beloved son. And now, the police investigate her death.

Sally Hepworth’s novel caught me straightaway. From the first page on, I was intrigued by the story and just wanted to find out how Lucy could have killed Diana. Well, of course, there was always the possibility that somebody else also disliked Diana that much - but it took quite some time until I gave up my first suspicions and then, admittedly, looked at the plot cluelessly: but who? They all hated her more or less, but rather more.

The story is told in flashbacks what makes the actual plot advance only slowly. Yet, this does not reduce suspense since the memories of Lucy and Diana alike definitely contribute to arouse suspicion. What I enjoyed most was how you directly think you know everything, have an idea of who is the good guy and who is the bad guy and how, slowly but steadily, your tower of belief crumbles and ultimately falls because the characters get more profile, other sides of their personality are shown and they become really authentic and plausible in the way they act and behave. At the same time, Sally Hepworth’s novel is often really funny and entertaining, I liked her kind of humour deeply.

The author was definitely great discovery for me and I am eager to read more from her.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters of Lucy and Diana. I almost felt like the rest of the characters weren't needed except for context. Lucy lost her mother when she was a young girl, so when she meets Ollie's mom, Diana, she wants to connect with her to have that motherly bond. Except Diana, isn't very open to that, in fact she pretty much blows Lucy off.

We get both points of view from Lucy and Diana which are interesting because we see how these two women could bond if they would only let their guards down, more so Diana but Lucy begins to freeze her out as well.

The book also switches back and forth between the past and present which allows the reader to have some context into the complexity of these relationships. I like complex relationships and what couldn't be more complex than a mother in law and daughter in law?!

Ms. Hepworth does a great job of keeping you guessing until the end.

I loved this book. The Mother In Law is mean and horrible and now she's dead. Murder or suicide? Neither make sense. Part mystery, part character study, especially mother-in-law vs daughter-in-law. It was a fast, great read.

This book grabs you and never let’s go. The description picked my interest, didn’t know what to expect and I was not disappointed. Ms. Hepworth does a great job in the chapter category, she starts each chapter with the name of the narrator and whether we are in the past or the present. I loved that, made it so much easier to follow along. The character development for the entire family Diana, Tom, Ollie, Lucy, Nettie and Patrick was done so very well.
This is such an enlightening book with a great “who dun it” mystery at the core. It also really makes you think about how you perceive a person’s behavior without really knowing or even trying to understand the reasons why. The going back and forth from past and present gave the story a wonderful background and drops little tidbits that make you think you have it all figured out and then you get blindsided. The best part of the whole story, unexpectedly along the way, you learn and follow the development of a great love story between Tom and Diana, and what a story it is.
I read this book in just a couple days, held my interest all the way thru. I highly recommend.
I was given an advanced copy from St. Martin’s Press through Net Galley for my honest review, this one gets 5*****’s.

This book isn’t non-stop action, but it’s definitely another read that pulled at me from beginning to end.

From the moment Lucy met her husband’s mother, she knew she wasn’t the wife Diana had envisioned for her son. Exquisitely polite, friendly, and always generous, Diana nonetheless kept Lucy at arm’s length despite her attempts to win her over. Now, Diana is dead, a suicide note found near her body. Before we continue, I must remind you to remember that things are not always what they seem.

Wouldn’t you like to know what happened to Diana? I did! I didn’t care for her character at all, but I really, really needed to know how she died. Was it suicide or something far more sinister? I enjoyed this story as each character is well drawn and likable, or unlikeable as the case was with Diana. I was both surprised and unsurprised by the conclusion of this story. I certainly hadn’t figured out what was going on but could, in some way, understand the circumstances and pain.

If you enjoy stories of family drama and intrigue, then this book is for you!

I was thrilled by The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth! Lucy and her Mother-In-Law, Diana, are never quite on the same page and have a contentious relationship. Told from alternating narratives between the two women you are given a “behind the words” glimpse into each woman’s thoughts as seemingly innocent or meaningful gestures are discredited and wreak havoc. As the police arrive one night to announce that Diana was found dead, more issues arise and the past is uncovered more thoroughly. To paraphrase - they spent so much time contemplating their differences that in the end they realize how much they have in common - as women, mothers, and the love they have for Ollie. I enjoyed the plot and characters, and I really enjoyed Hepworth writing style - plus the twist at the end was unexpected. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC, and all opinions are my own.

I liked this book, and the characters were well drawn, AND there were a few twists. Overall, I found it dragged in a few places, but I would still recommend it for lovers of mystery/thrillers. Again, I liked the characters and liked the use of an unreliable narrator. I know this will be a popular title as it’s featured in Entertainment Weekly! Kudos and congrats to Sally Hepworth!

Oh my gosh! Poor Lucy! After losing her own mother at age 13, Lucy pins her hopes on a close and loving relationship with her mother-in-law Diana. However, due to a few missteps on both sides, this relationship does not go the way Lucy had hoped. The book follows two timelines as it not only looks at the relationship between Diana and Lucy but also what happens after Diana is found dead. Was it suicide or did someone kill her? And if so, who and why? The book did not feel very much like the typical twisty, murder mystery, thriller. Though there are a few twists scattered throughout so you don't completely forget that this is indeed a mystery! Instead if felt like a sincere look at familial relationships and dealing with the deal of a parent. I know that sounds rather staid, but the result was a really good solid read!

From the moment Lucy met Diana, she was kept at arms length. Diana is exquisitely polite, but Lucy knows, even after marrying Oliver, that they'll never have the closeness she'd been hoping for. Now Diana has been found dead, leaving a suicide note. But the autopsy reveals evidence of suffocation. Everyone in the family is hiding something.

The story goes back and forward in time and is told by Diana and Lucy's point of view. Diana and her husband Tom are very wealthy but Diana wants her children to make their own way in life and not rely on handouts. Some of the characters are more likeable than others. Lucy had lost her own mother at a young age, so when she met Oliver she hoped she could have a good relationship with Diana. There is a lot of resentment and jealousy in this story. I was shocked when it was revealed who killed Diana.

I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author Sally Hepworth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reader alert: this book deals with multiple issues surrounding unwanted pregnancies, adoption and infertility. If you are sensitive to any of those topics, this is not a book for you.

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth is a quick, easy read. The story is told from two points of view through most of the book – that of Lucy, wife of Oliver (Ollie) and Diana, her mother-in-law, with the voice of Nettie, Diana’s daughter, entering at the end.

Lucy lost her mother at age 13 to breast-cancer and has always longed to have a close relationship with a mother figure. When dating Ollie, she dreamt she and Diana would be close and share intimacies. The dream ended the first time she met Diana, a very private, aloof woman who keeps everyone except her husband Tom at bay. Not even warm towards her own children, Lucy realizes that it is extremely doubtful that the relationship she had hoped for with Diana will come to pass.

Oliver and Lucy, and his younger sister Nettie and Patrick (her husband), have all struggled financially from time to time through the years; buying a first home, starting a business, etc. Yet, though easily able to help them out without jeopardizing her own financial security in the least, Diana refuses each request. She believes the greatest gift she can give to her children is the ability to make their own way, wherever that way might take them. It’s especially galling to her children because no request is too small (or too large for that matter) when it comes to helping someone connected to the charity she founded. It’s not surprising that the “children” (though adults) are resentful! When Diana is found dead under suspicious circumstances, the police find no shortage of people with motive.

Though Hepworth attempts to soften the edges of Diana through back story, she still comes across as the flat, stereo-typical mean mother-in-law, which is a discredit to both the character and the author. While the author shows us pieces of Diana and Lucy’s lives that prove they are more similar than they think, it’s frustrating to this reader that those pieces are not shared between the characters. So many lost opportunities! Sometimes time changes people, and sometimes those changes come too late. This book gets 3.5 stars rating from me.

Many thanks to Jordan Hanley of St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Opinions expressed here are my own.

I finished The Mother-in-Law yesterday. It was not what I was expecting at all. For some reason, I was ready for a thriller... this was more of a family drama and a mystery to figure out who killed Diana, the cold Mother-in-law.
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This book was sad. It definitely reminded me several times of the importance of telling people how you feel, and what they mean to you.
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It has short chapters that alternated between past and present. Most of the story is told from daughter-in-law Lucy’s POV, with Diana’s POV in the past. I loved it. This was my first read from Sally Hepworth and it won’t be my last. I’ve had The Family Next Door on my bookshelf for a while and it just jumped up my TBR list.
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The Mother-in-Law comes out April 23rd. It’s one you definitely need to read, in my humble opinion!
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The Mother-In-Law is a real page turner that left me guessing until close to the end. It is told in multiple point of views and times, but thanks to clear headings and different voices, it is very easy to keep track of the story. The story is very realistic - this is something that could easily happen in actual life, which makes it all more suspenseful. Sally Hepworth is a very talented storyteller, and this book is another 5 star win for her!

I received an advance reader copy of this book.

Wow! The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth is full of sharp twists and fast paced suspense! Clear your schedule when reading this Five Star thriller for you won't be able to put it down! #Suspense #sharptwists #FiveStar #mustread #family

A really enjoyable read. I felt like a ping pong ball being smacked back and forth between the sides of the 2 narrators each time each had her own chapter - but I mean that in a good way, as they were complex characters. The ending was surprising but not unbelievable - and I really appreciated the “lessons” within the text. Thanks for giving me a chance to read and review!

I received an Advanced Review Copy of The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth from the publisher St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Lucy and her mother-in-law Diana have never really gotten along, and then one day the police knock on her door to tell her her mother-in-law has died and the circumstances behind her death are not clear cut at all. While this book has a mystery at its center, it is much more a family story.

What I Loved: I was so surprised by this book, not necessarily the ending but by how much my thoughts changed and adapted as the book went on. For instance I thought I hated the two main characters and this book was going to be frustrating to read, but then I'd learn more and be more sympathetic. This book allows characters to evolve and makes them intriguing and relatable and you see the characters you liked evolve into characters that frustrate you and visa versa, plus when you add the central mystery to the story, it goes by FAST.

What I didn’t like so much: If you're reading this for the 'who done it?', it might be disappointing.

Who Should Read It: People who love family story related mysteries ala Liane Moriarty. People who like a constantly evolving stories. People who like page-turners.

General Summary: A family centered mystery, where things are not what they seem.

Holy cow ! I loved this book! Sally just never disappoints !!!! I loved this story and the whole direction of the book!

Lucy’s Mother In Law Diana has been tough on her children and their spouses. Then she is found dead, by apparent suicide, and nobody can believe it. She didn’t seem like the type to kill herself, but what else could have happened? The story is told through Lucy and Diana’s points of view, in past and present tense.

There are so many twists and turns in this book. It’s the ultimate dysfunctional family story, after reading, you will definitely not look at your family the same way.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
Although I am a single lady, it doesn't mean that I haven't heard my share of "mother in law" stories. Some women just cannot cut the cord even after their precious sons get married. For the heck of it I decided to do an internet search on mother in laws. My sweet baby Jesus! There are tons of mother in law stories not to mention a definitive list of the worst mother in laws in HISTORY. Bring your popcorn because if you're anything like me, you'll head down a very dark hole on Saturday night.

The story begins with two police officers arriving at Lucy's home to inform her husband, Ollie, that his mother is dead, an apparent suicide that might be more. As the story moves from the present into Lucy and Diana's tense past, it seems clear that more than one person would be happy to have Diana dead.

I read this novel in one sitting, but would certainly put forward that the book could be called "Mother" as Diana( in my opinion) had an even more aggressive relationship with Ollie and his sister, Antoinette. The more that I read about the highs and lows of Diana's past, I begin to wonder how reliable Lucy's narrative really was as the secrets start to unravel. Although I had an inkling of what the big reveal was going to be, I was still hooked enough to keep the pages tourning. The Mother-in-Law was my first Sally Hepworth read, but it surely will not be my last.

Goodreads Review: 14/04/19
Publication Date: 23/04/19

I finished this book at 3 this morning; it is a book that once you start reading, it is impossible to put down! The Mother-in-law is suspenseful, with twists and turns around every corner, never knowing where it's going to take you! The story revolves around the contentious relationship between Lucy and her mother-in-law Diana, two strong, independent women that are always butting heads, never really understanding what makes the other woman tick. This story is also very poignant and heartfelt, and as events unfold you are pulled deeper into the relationships and conflicts with all of the compex characters in this story. The dialogue is sharp, the feelings intense, secrets abound, the plot fast-paced—an excellent book all around!

Wow, I loved it! Please add me to the huge list of fans for Sally Hepworth. I have heard so much about this author and yet this is my first book I have read by her. Needless to say I am quickly adding the rest to my TBR pile!

The age old mother- in- law vs daughter- in- law dilemma. Except this time the mother in law Diana ends up dead! Certainly even though Lucy and Diana have had their differences in the past, it surely would not have come to this?! As we search for the answer to this question we are privy to both Lucy and Diana's point of view. Which allowed us to see how each really felt about the other as we got a look into each of their thoughts.

This book started out with a bang and did not let up. I literally flew through this book in less than 24 hours because I could not put it down! I loved the writers style which kept me gripped to the pages until the very end. I know that many will think Diana is unlikable, but dare I say I loved her. Yes I did! I loved reading her point of view. She was very witty at times and made me laugh. I felt she was a very strong woman with a strong personality. This quite often rubs people the wrong way, but it made me like her even more.

I read this book as a group read with the Traveling Sisters. It was a fantastic book to read as a group because we could bounce all our theories off each other. Needless to say this one kept me guessing until the very end. I never saw that ending coming! That is the best kind of book in my opinion! Loved my first book by Sally Hepworth, I have a lot of catching up to do!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this ARC and Sally Hepworth for writing this fantastic book!