Pretty good mystery. Interesting twist in the end. While I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t as good as The Couple Next Door, in my opinion.

This book hooked me right from the beginning with the intriguing premise and Lucy's musings about how "the cackling mercenaries of fate" choose your family for you, and kept me going with its endless twists. I loved seeing the story unfold from the dueling viewpoints of Diana and Lucy; it helped give both characters much more depth and made some of the twists more difficult to anticipate.

At first, Diana comes across as the mother-in-law from hell. She cuts off Lucy mid-story and essentially ignores her future daughter-in-law's presence at their first meeting, but as the story opened up and revealed more of her mysterious past, she became much more endearing. Reading her reflections of certain moments (the raw chicken, the teddy bear, et cetera) after seeing how Lucy perceived them was very interesting and helped keep the story feeling real.

The tactic of the unreliable narrator worked really well for Lucy's side of the story. For much of the story, it seemed like she was either hiding something or truly did not know much about her mother-in-law. This helped make many of the twists even more shocking. Every time I felt like I guessed who was responsible for Diana's death, I was wrong-a great thing. Sally Hepworth did a great job with a clever, twisty psychological suspense story that will keep readers guessing until the last few pages. 4.5 stars from me!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Full disclosure: this book has been on “can’t wait to read list” for awhile because of my own in-law drama. It takes a lot for me to choose a book based solely of the title.
The-Mother-In-law lived up to my expectations in every way possible. I’m giving it 5 shiny stars. 10/10 would read again.

Sally Hepworth does such a good job writing a suspenseful story without scaring you. I read this in about 24 hours because I was enthralled. The differing points of view and movement forward and back throughout time were well done and not confusing. It was enlightening to see the same events from different characters viewpoints. This added to their depth and my full understanding of the story. I’ve loved all of Sally Hepworth’s books and this is certainly no exception!

This book is ok, I didn't get excited reading it, I guess I expected more excitement then there was. I did not see that ending coming. I was a little shocked by it. I will not go into detail ,because I don't like spoiling for others that haven't read it.

Lucy has been doing all she could to win over her mother-in-law Dianna who has not been very accepting of her marriage to her son. Over the years Lucy continues to attempt to get close and break down the walls, but Diana who is very well respected in the community will not budge.

Fast forward a few years later and poor Diana has been found deceased with a suicide note. She could not live with the cancer any longer. The kicker...... Diana's body showed no signs of cancer upon the autopsy. All that was found was light races of poison and an apparent suffocation.

In a town filled with people who adored her (with the exception of her daughter in law) the search for her killer could be a difficult one.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. It was a page turner and I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. I really liked that the story was told from different points of view by characters. A twisted family situation and a hidden motive lead to murder. Definitely recommend reading.

Lucy has tried to get along with her mother-in-law, Diana since she met her. But, even after marrying Ollie and giving her three grandchildren, Diana continues to treat Lucy coldly. Diana has had a difficult life. Now, her and her husband Tom have plenty of money and a beautiful home. Diana runs a charity that helps new mothers and their children that do not have much money. She loves her children, Ollie and Nellie, but she refuses to help them when they need money for different reasons. She wants them to learn how to deal with their issues on their own, much like she did when she was younger.
Several years later, Diana is found dead in her home, leaving a suicide note. However, police have found evidence of suffocation. Has someone murdered Diana? This compelling family drama is told in the alternating perspectives of Lucy and Diana. It also alternates between past and present. The characters are well developed. Lucy is such a likeable character; while Diana is someone you'd love to hate. I read this book very quickly. Loved it!

Thanks for the advanced copy. A thrilling, twisting story that kept me going until the very end. I thought it would be the typical mother-in-law story, but it was so much more. Highly recommend

Relationships are always complicated--especially marriages. I feel like there are a plethora of books out there about dysfunctional relationships between in-laws and this one started out the same way. Lucy lost her own mother when she was young and craves a meaningful relationship with her mother-in-law-to-be, Diana. But Diana is cold and judgmental so Lucy is immediately disappointed and wary; however, as time goes on the reader comes to many realizations about why Diana's personality appears to be so distant. Told from both Lucy and Diana's perspectives, both past and present, the novel is a thought-provoking look at the layers of deceit and secrets that bind us all in family life. It is both poignant and relevant as the truths are peeled back like an onion, revealing a core that is bittersweet and heartbreaking all at once. Yes, I shed some tears but they were there to remind me never to see someone in just one light. My dad often told us to "always examine a person's motives before you judge someone," and he was usually right. This is a very thoughtful look at a family's search for answers amid tragedies that could either bring them closer or tear them apart...maybe a little of both. I am a Sally Hepworth fan for life!

Wow! What a fantastic read! Thank you NetGalley for my arc copy of The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth.

Lucy has a complicated relationship with her mother in law, Diana. Lucy is a very sweet and lovable person. She she was thirteen years old, her mother passed away. More than anything, she wants a close and loving relationship with her mother-in-law. Diana, however isn't interested and doesn't care (very cold). Diana even struggles being close with her own children. The story is told through two points of view; one being Lucy and the other Diana.

Ollie is Lucy’s husband and Diana’s son. He grew up having a privileged life. Diana and her husband, Tom are very wealthy. Diana wants her children to be self sufficient. Ollie's business is failing and their house is too small for their family that is growing. Ollie's sister, Nettie desperately wants children but needs money for a surrogate. Diana has the money to help both her children but refuses. Then Diana gets murdered. Who is responsible? Is it one of her own children or maybe her Daughter-In-Law?

A fabulous book you won't want to put down.

Sally Hepworth's latest book The Mother In Law was full of her usual suspense but I have to admit a little slow to get into. It was really good and insightful into the relationship between mothers and their children. Just not as exciting as her previous in my opinion. Diana is a woman who is stern in her beliefs and seemed at times a little stern and aloof but by her intentions were always good. She had a hard life that her children knew nothing about that shaped her into the woman they knew. She has 2 grown children, 3 grandchildren. Her life seems complete if not a little less after her husband dies but she seems to be doin fine. Until she mysteriously turns up dead. A suicide but there are things that don't add up to her suicide. What really happened to this mother in law???? Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my honest review on this book

This book really took me by surprise! Let me start by saying I'm a big Sally Hepworth fan and I was so excited to get my hands on this book.

At first I thought it was going to be just another typical psychological thriller but man was I wrong. This is actually a quite beautiful, though sad, story of familial love and how you never really know who someone is unless you take the time to stop judging and dig deeper.

I thought the Lucy and Diana storyline was just wonderful and not at all what I expected.

And Nettie broke my heart. I found her character arc deeply sad.

Last, but not least, I loved the humane refugee angle. I loved everything about it. For a moment I was worried that the refugees were going to tie into the crime, and I would have HATED that...but I should have known better. Sally Hepworth is better than that.

4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

Books like these are tough to rate. The Mother in Law was strong when focusing on the complex dynamic between daughter in laws and mother in laws. The ups and downs of the relationship between Diana and Lucy had me fascinated, as well as relieved that she wasn't my mother in law. The mystery of what happened to Diana didn't interest me in the least. I just found it hard to care when Diana was completely unlikable. She was judgmental, rude, distant and selfish. The writing was excellent and characterizations were on point, so I would definitely recommend The Mother in Law to fans of domestic dramas.

The Mother-in-Law is not the first I have read by Sally Hepworth, and it won't be the last. As the author takes you back and forth from the present and the past, she enhances her work by giving you the two perspectives of Lucy and Diana to tell the story. While reading, one cannot escape thinking about how family relationships within a family of origin and a family inherited by marriage are easy in some respects and difficult in others. Diana is the most complex to be admired and disliked, sometimes at the same time. She is strong yet shows weakness, cold yet shows empathy and distant but loving. Lucy is the likeable one, even during those times of failure.

When Diana dies, it is presumed to be suicide, but all the other characters have reason to be thought of as suspects. with varying motives. This includes the daughter-in-law Lucy, Lucy's husband Oliver, and even Oliver's business partner. Diana's daughter Nettie as well as Nettie's husband, Patrick are also suspects. A must read to find out who done it!

I thank Net Galley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth. The characters were realistic as was there relationships with each other. Hepworth brings just enough suspense to not be over the top, but keeps you from being able to put it down. As much as I kept guessing, I still didn't quite see it coming!

Yes! Sally Hepworth has done it again! Another fantastic novel that had me up all night to finish it! Love the cover work too so beautiful and enticing!

Oh my gosh! This book! The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth is one of those books that you’ll start and finish in one day- it’s one of those books you just can’t put down...because you are desperate to know what is going to happen!

The book centers around Lucy and her mother-in-law Diana. It is told in alternating voices, and past and present. I really really like how this story is told- it’s important to the central storyline and really helps us understand the characters.

This book portrayed an interesting dynamic - the relationship between daughter-in-laws and mother-in-laws. What is the role eacb should play in the relationship? We get inside both individuals heads and truly understand what each is thinking! I absolutely loved watching the relationship develop throughout the novel- although sometimes I was so frustrated and just wanted to yell at both Lucy and Diana to talk to each other!

The premise of the book, which you learn in the first chapter, is that Diana has died, and it looks like she has committed suicide. What happened? What led to this tragic turn of events? Why was Diana the way she was? Let me tell you- you will absolutely want to keep reading and not put this book down to find out.

Every time I thought I knew what was happening, I was thrown off. I appreciate books where I don’t always see the ending coming!

Fans of mysteries and thrillers will appreciate this book, as well as people who enjoy books with characters where you truly see their development. I would give this book 4/5 stars.

**I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review**

I was given an Arc from Net Galley for an honest review.
This is my first novel by Sally Hepworth, written by several points of view, each character is very well drawn out. I loved this book definitely unputdownable.

While I enjoyed this - I didn't find it as much a thriller as a look into family dynamics. Liked the character growth and enjoyed it - but didn't love it!