Don't go into this one thinking it's going to be edge of your seat thrills throughout. Know that you will have to think and observe the tiniest of details so you can peek at a family - not a perfect family, but one who has real struggles. Sure there's an investigation, but that is not at the forefront of this one. Sally Hepworth nails the dynamics between mother and child, father to child, and, of course, mother in law to daughter in law. If you like intense, psychological, and insightful books, this one is for you!

Sally Hepworth's latest is a domestic drama that will keep you guessing, and is one of her best yet. Lucy's mother-in-law, Diana, isn't the worst mother-in-law you've read about in fiction- she isn't warm and she doesn't show up in the ways Lucy would like, but she's not as outright evil seeming as sometimes happens (in real life and fiction!). But when she is found dead in her home of an apparent suicide, Lucy starts questioning all their past encounters. Diana's story and background are different than Lucy or her own children know, and as her past is revealed in flashbacks, readers will come to see that whether you marry into a family or are born into it, there might be secrets and wounds that you'll never know. I wasn't sure what was coming in this story, and found the entirity to be an interesting tale.

This was a fast read and I was somewhat enjoying it for a little more then halfway through. The relationships in this book are just so far off then what I can comprehend, but this may be the case when it comes to the filthy rich and and their family’s (kids) expectations.
So, for the part I did enjoy...3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for the ARC

*** 3.5 Stars ***
Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2019

Lucy's mother-in-law Diana, is far from perfect and had always treated Lucy as if she were not good enough for her son. then Diana is found dead with a suicide note however cause of death appears to be from asphyxiation. Could Lucy be a suspect?
This was just okay for me.... I didn't feel the character development was that strong to where I invested in the characters. I honestly didn't think at the beginning the mother in law was that terrible and instead the others were overly sensitive and whiny. This definitely grew on me as it went and I did enjoy the ending which is why I raised my rating. I wouldn't call this jaw dropping but the interpersonal relationships were complex and interesting.

Special Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

The Mother-in-Law is the second book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth (the first one being last year’s The Family Next Door) and just like with that book, I found this one to be a quick, entertaining read that kept my attention well enough, though I honestly would categorize this more as a domestic suspense than a thriller, as it didn’t have the “edge-of-your-seat” twisted thrill ride feel to it. The story does start out gripping enough, with the death of Lucy’s mother-in-law Diana from an apparent suicide, though under circumstances mysterious enough to warrant an investigation into other factors possibly at play. The subsequent chapters then go back and forth in time from past to present, with the narrative alternating primarily between the voices of Lucy and Diana, revealing bit by bit the backstory of the various members of the family, eventually leading up to the truth about Diana’s death. As the details of the family’s struggles began to emerge and we (as readers) started to get caught up in all the drama and conflicts between the characters, this was where I felt the story started to veer a bit off course in that it became easy to forget that there was an actual mystery to be solved (Diana’s death and the circumstances surrounding it). With that said though, we do learn quite a bit about Diana and Lucy and we also get a good understanding of the dynamics of their relationship – seeing how the same situations could be viewed so differently from the mother-in-law versus the daughter-in-law’s perspective, I actually felt this exploration of family relationships was the most interesting aspect of the story. The ending I actually didn’t see coming in that I wasn’t able to figure it out early on (definitely a good thing, as it meant the plot wasn’t too predictable), but unfortunately, I felt the buildup wasn’t as strong as it could have been, which made the truth of Diana’s death when it was finally revealed in the end a bit anti-climactic for me.

I don’t want to say too much else about the plot so as not to spoil the story for those who haven’t read this one yet. For me, this book worked well as a domestic drama, a story exploring contemporary family dynamics and relationships. Even though my family background is very different from the family in the book, I was able to appreciate some of the relationship elements that were explored and though the story didn’t go too deep, it still gave me some interesting insight and food for thought. The part that didn’t work for me was the suspense/thriller element, as despite the “cliffhangers” at the end of practically each chapter, I felt like it wasn’t enough to establish the suspenseful mood that I’ve come to expect from stories classified under this genre. I would definitely still recommend this one, just be mindful of the expectations going into it.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

When I first finished this book I rated it 4 stars. It was really 3.5 stars and I rounded up. After putting thought into this review, I have decided to round down. I actually really enjoyed this story. It's a great concept. It's a fascinating story. And crazy enough, it's so relevant with the issue of entitled kids this generation is dealing with. Mommy and Daddy are rich beyond their means so the kids think everything should be handed to them on a silver platter. But that's not the kind of mom Diana is!!! I may not have agreed with all the decisions she made, but I respect the ethics she tried to instill in her kids. Here is my biggest issue with this book that caused me to round down - this book is tagged as a mystery or thriller and I just didn't get it. There wasn't really any big mystery or thrill to it. I think it has the potential to be a huge thriller and I kept waiting and waiting for a thrill that never came. There is a tiny twist at the very end of the story but it's not enough to constitute the genre this book is being labeled as. I do feel it's a really good fiction story. It's a pretty quick read and the story will suck you in. I wasn't disappointed in the author's character development. Some you will like and some you will want to strangle, which keeps the book interesting. I wanted to be able to give this a higher rating. Again the story is enjoyable and well written, I just feel it's being labeled wrong for the content which is a little misleading for the reader.

My thanks to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Though The Mother-in-Law at first appears to be domestic thriller, I’d say it’s more of a book about relationships.

Lucy is a colorful, warm-hearted mother. Diana, her mother-in-law, is cold, disapproving, aloof. Through their alternating points of view, we see the miscommunications that keep their relationship from going further.

Hepworth is great at illustrating these relationship dynamics. It’s easy to go full-tilt-evil in creating a mother-in-law or antagonist. But Hepworth’s characters are more realistic. They all have flaws and they all have saving graces. They all (at least for the most part) have good intentions at heart, but don’t always carry them out successfully. I loved Lucy. And I loved Diana.

The one part I’m still conflicted on is the crazy-making female hormones. Woman tries to conceive, can’t, and goes on an insane rampage, chalking it all up to her hormones and crazy obsession with babies. I’m not thrilled with books that criminalize women based on their biology.

At the same time, sometimes a woman is indeed a prisoner to her own biology. Hepworth showed this perfectly with her depiction of postpartum psychosis in The Family Next Door. Hence my conflicted feelings.

Overall, though, The Mother-in-Law is an excellent book. I mourned Diana. Her loss is the true heartbreak here, plus the relationship Lucy should have been able to have with her.

Families - there is the one you are born into, the one you marry into and the one you choose.

When Lucy marries Ollie, she desperately wants to be accepted into his family, especially by his Mother Diana, as Lucy lost her mother at an early age. But from day one, Diana appears reserved and distant. The rest of Ollie's family embraces Lucy but Lucy feels that she just can't do anything right in Diana's eyes. Lucy is a lively woman who chooses to stay home with her children and is doing the best she can to be a good mother, wife and daughter in law.

Diana was basically disowned by her parents during her later teenage years for choices she made and was taken in by her Aunt. She eventually meets her husband Tom and her life changes for the better. With Tom, Diana raised two children: Ollie and Nettie. Diana often must play the bad cop in her family yet has a generous and giving nature with the refugees she helps.

I don't want to say any more about the plot and encourage fellow readers to go in knowing as little as you can about the plot. This book pleasantly surprised me. I have been a fan of Hepworth since reading her first book and this book lived up to my expectations of her writing. I loved how she gave us the inner thoughts of each of the two main women - Lucy and Diana. I also appreciated how she showed each's intentions and how often intentions can be misread, or someone might have difficulty fully articulating his/her motives/thoughts/emotions to another person effectively, thus causing others to make inaccurate assumptions about that individual. It's what you say, how you say it and sometimes the things you don't get the chance to say, choose not to say or don't say. Relationships are tricky things. In fact, relationships can be messy. Worry about overstepping, worry about not being liked, worry about not teaching your children the skills to live, worry about being over bearing, worry about not being involved...ah...all the worries.

Diana and Lucy are not the only characters with relationship issues in this book. There are quite a few things going on in the relationships of others in this book as well. These subplots with are a part of the larger plot are just as important and show issues which can occur in marriages, with co-workers and with people we interact with in our personal lives.

I found this book to be a fast read which did not disappoint. I enjoyed how the Mother in law/daughter in law complicated relationship unfolded. How each tired with the other in her own way. It was refreshing to read both of their POV sections to see how they interpreted situations and often misinterpret each other intentions.

But this book is also not all about relationships, it is also about what happened to Diana. There is a mystery here. Was her death a suicide? Was she murdered? Who knows? One must read to find out!

I found this book to be thought provoking and captivating. It was a fast read which did not disappoint this reader.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Sally Hepworth 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.

Having loved another book by Sally Hepworth I knew that I just needed to read The Mother-in-Law and that I was going to love it. I’ll admit I’ve had this thriller for awhile and while you would think I would have been rushing to pick it up I actually saved this one for a pick me up when I got in a mediocre rut and thankfully it worked.

The story in The Mother-in-Law starts in the present time with Lucy as she and her husband are at home enjoying the day when police show up with some horrible news. Diana, Lucy’s mother-in-law, has been found in her home in what at first glance seems to be a suicide.

As readers are getting to know Lucy, her husband and the rest of the family as they deal with the news Sally Hepworth begins to sneak in chapters from Diana’s point of view which of course are taking place in the years since Lucy married into the family. The story flows really well from the past and present as we discover Diana’s death was not what it seemed to be and someone wanted her dead.

As one might guess I absolutely loved this story and had a great time trying to figure out what happened. One of those books that just immediately drags you into the story and doesn’t let go as the battle between they all seem innocent to everyone is a sketchy lowlife and she’s lucky she lived this long wages war in your head. Would definitely recommend checking this one out but be prepared it’s one you won’t want to put down.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Really enjoyed this book! It was a good mystery with a few unexpected turns. The characters were enjoyable and the book had an easy flow. So many twists and turns but the book came together perfectly!

Sally Hepworth is constantly being compared to Liane Moriarty and not just because they’re both Australian, female writers. I get the comparison, they both write lighter style suspense, no blood and guts, just good old fashioned who dunnits with a modern twist that focus on domestic secrets and betrayals. As much as I love LM dare I say I love SH more?! Yep, I just did, her books are the true definition of unputdownable and there is always more than meets the eye with everything from the plot itself to the characters and their motivations, histories and secrets.

Mother and daughter in law relationships are endlessly fascinating to me, maybe it’s because I truly have such a fantastic relationship with my own MIL (seriously, she is THE BEST) but there are always highly complex dynamics between a mom and her sons wife no matter how great the two women get along, there is always something tricky about them and Diana and Lucy’s is no different. You hear from both women, Diana in the past and Lucy in both the past and present and at first glance you assume many things about them both. I’m beginning to understand that making assumptions while reading a SH book is just not smart, she’s a clever writer and has so many tricks up her sleeve. That’s all I’m saying about that.

This was pure entertainment, the best kind of read because you get totally sucked in and before you know it, half the book is over. There’s a steadily building style of suspense, the chapters get shorter as you get closer to the end and the tension is raised as well. The ending was super solid and the whole thing was unique, this really felt like something new in the world of domestic suspense and made me a firm fan of the author.

The Mother In Law in three words: Fresh, Fascinating and Complicated

When Lucy married Ollie, there were times when she liked her mother-in-law and there were times that she despised her. Ollie and his sister, Nellie, grew up in a wealthy family. Their dad, Tom, was very giving to his children and grandchildren. Their mom, Lucy, was not. She grew up having to work hard for everything and she had a heart for refugees that did not have much at all. She did not believe in giving money to people-not even her own family when they needed it. This caused a lot of hardship with Lucy. Ollie’s business was going under and Nellie was obsessed with getting money for IVF.
When Diana was found dead, the police said that it was a suicide or possible homicide. But who would kill Diana? Diana was so depressed after Tom’s death. Would she have committed suicide?
I loved this book and all of the characters! It is a page turner from beginning to end!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Great build up of characters. I felt badly for both the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law. They both were misunderstood by the other. This was a easy, flowing read. I enjoyed this authors writing style. I can honestly say this book is un-put-downable! Add it to your “to read” list! It’s amazing!! Release date is 4/23/19.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Huge thank you to Sally Hepworth, Netgally, Macmillan Publishing and St Martin’s Press for a fantastic read!
#theMotherInLaw
#stmartinspress

This was my first Hepworth and it did not disappoint. I really liked that it bounced around from Lucy (the main character) and Diana (the mother-in-law), as well as between the past and the present. In so doing, the story came together in an engaging way. (I totally fell asleep trying to finish it last night!) The Mother-in-Law was detailed enough to make me care about the characters, but quick enough that I read it in < 24 hours. (I tend to like thrillers I can tear through better than those that take me a week.)

Maybe I'm just picking better mysteries these days, but this is another in a recent stretch that has some depth. Yes, there's a dead body, and an investigation into how that came to be. But this book also explores what it means to be a daughter/mother/mother-in-law, infertility, what's considered a good life, and how two people can see the same interaction or relationship quite differently. All this would give a book club much to discuss.

The Mother-in-Law was a bit predictable at times, and some of the characters could have been better fleshed out, but I really enjoyed this one and do recommend it.

(Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an uncorrected digital galley!)

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.

After Lucy’s mother-in-law, Diana is found dead, Lucy’s relationship with Diana is examined. It’s no secret there’s little love lost between the two of them, but was their relationship that bad? Maybe she’s hiding something. Maybe it’s matricide. The other members of the family and even some family friends seem a bit shady, too.

Hepworth shifts perspectives between Diana and Lucy and between the past and present. It was fascinating to see how little they seemed to understand about each other, and how they perceived the same situation in different ways. All these instances build on each other to form their shaky relationship, and it makes the reader wonder if all of this could lead to something nefarious.

Hepworth has clear, concise writing that evokes sympathy for her characters and gives meaning to “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.” I read this book very quickly because the pacing was excellent, with its short chapters and switches between characters.

I love a good story with a twist ending, and this book reminded me of Liane Moriarty’s stories that always end with a surprise.

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!