Lucy’s Mother-in-law, Diana, is dead. Cause of death- apparent suicide. However, the police aren’t convinced that foul play wasn’t involved. Could her death have been at the hands of a family member? As you gain insight from both the past and present, you will quickly learn that there are people who may have viewed their lives to be better off without Diana in it.
This novel rotates between characters and time periods and will engross you to learn the truth about Diana’s death. It was a quick, enjoyable read that had me guessing until the end.
Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for providing me with this copy for an honest review!
This one comes out this month! Who will be adding it to their list? 👍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
#bookstagram #books #fiction @sallyhepworth #motherinlaw #domesticsuspense

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth was an interesting read in that it was both told from the point of view of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law as well as from past and present. Bouncing back and forth between story tellers and time makes you have to pay attention to details. And I paid so much attention that I thought I had this little mystery figured out a handful of times! However, Hepworth did not disappoint keeping me in the dark until the very last minute.

These characters were relatable even though I have very little in common with any of them. I found myself rooting for different people at different times. Even when the unthinkable happens, I still believed it and couldn’t put this book down trying to uncover the truth of what happened.

The Mother-in-Law was well written and hard to
put down. I think you will agree!

I really enjoyed this thriller with heart. This is not your typical in-law story, although it appears so at first glance. As Lucy and Diana's stories unfold, you feel your heart start to break a little more. This story explores the reasons why people do things that hurt others, especially the ones they love the most. By contrasting voices, the author physically puts you in the minds of each woman and how they differently interpret each event. I was not expecting this novel to make me reflect on my own life, but it did. The twist at the end was the icing on the cake.

This would make an excellent book club book and I hope publication includer's reader guide questions at the end.

Compelling and twisty murder story strengthened my strong characterizations and shifting points of view and time
One of those stay up and read in the middle of the night books

The Mother-in-Law is classic Sally Hepworth. She excels in writing about family drama, and this book is no exception. The story alternates viewpoints for much of the book between Lucy (the daughter-in-law) and Diana (the mother-in-law). Lucy's storyline alternates between the past and the present. Once you can figure out the changing viewpoints, the story flows well. There are a few instances within the chapters where the storyline jumps as well (Lucy is trying on wedding dresses and then suddenly she's out to dinner with her husband and a friend?, Lucy and her husband are in the car with her sister-in-law and her husband and then they're at home having a discussion?).

Overall, it was a good family drama and interesting mystery. It's a little predictable, and there were some story threads that were introduced but not really followed through well. It's an easy read and for anyone that typically enjoys Hepworth and family drama, this is for you.

I am still thinking about this book, the relationships, how they evolve, the past history coloring the events that happen and the dynamics behind Lucy and Diana. This book is full of psychological insights into the characters, there are so many layers to their lives that kept me second guessing motives. How can Lucy ever truly get to know Diana?...To say she is aloof doesn't cover it... Lucy feels Diana's whole family, including her husband Ollie is intermixed with intense suspicions. There is suspense, a murder, dark secrets all of which keep the pages turning at a fast pace. I loved this book, it is truly brilliantly written ...and eerily not hard to believe how it all happened.

There are numerous twists in this tale, told from multiple perspectives (Lucy and Diana). I was expecting more of a mystery than I found. I did like learning the backstory of the characters with the past/present format of the story. But, with the title, I was expecting a bit more drama overall. The action does pick up about midway (2/3) through the story, as you really want to know whodunit. The tension is better as the story goes on, but I wish it had been more consistent throughout the book.

Depending on one’s personal experience, the title, THE MOTHER-IN-LAW, may or may not immediately bring bad connotations and/or distasteful jokes to the forefront, but keep an open mind, because the author flawlessly portrays poetry in motion as the story unfolds.

Oliver “Ollie” Goodwin and his thirty-year-old wife, Lucy, have three children, seven-year-old Archie, four-year-old Harriett, and two-year-old Edie. The story opens with Sr. Constable Arthur and Constable Perkins delivering the news that Ollie’s mother, Diana Goodwin, is dead.

The next chapter reverts back ten years to Lucy’s story. Lucy was thirteen when her mother died of breast cancer; she was raised by her dad and was mothered by a 50-ish year-old housekeeper until Lucy turned eighteen. Lucy then had high hopes that one day that she would have a mother-in-law. Thus, when she meets Ollie’s parents for the first time, she has all of these preconceived expectations of a relationship with his mom, but they are quickly extinguished. Lucy discovers that the family is “huggers” except for Diana who comes off as rather frosty and to top it off, she overhears Diana telling her son that it should not matter what she thinks of Lucy, but that she does think that Lucy is “fine.” To Lucy, this meant that she would be a daughter-in-law who is not wanted, but on the other hand, could be worse, and to Lucy, being called fine is as “good as dead.”

During this visit, Lucy also meets his sister, Antoinette, or “Nettie,” and her husband, Patrick. At thirty-two, Nettie is married, childless, and a finance manager for a marketing firm; as the story unfolds, Nettie’s obsession with having a baby has dire consequences.

The story continues to masterfully revert back and forth between the past and present life experiences of primarily Lucy and Diana. Diana grew up in a middle class, well-to-do Catholic family, whereas her husband, Tom, did not, but he went on to be a very successful business partner in one of the largest residential development companies in Australia. Diana now single-handedly runs a charity to help refugees in Australia, many pregnant or with small children.

The writing of this author is masterful in explaining how one’s life experiences can shape the decisions and relationships with others throughout one’s lifetime. This is indeed one of the best stories I have read, and look forward to reading more by this talented author. I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a pre-release of this magnificent book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this to all readers who appreciate a well-written story.

Wow! I was not expecting that ending! Now, I'll be up all night recovering from the adrenaline rush.
Lucy's mother-in-law Diana does not welcome her son Ollie's wife. In fact, she's polite but standoffish for 10 years. So when Diana is found dead with a suicide note, the family is left to wonder exactly what happened. Someone's hiding something, but what? Could Lucy really be responsible for Diana's death?
In my opinion, author Sally Hepworth kept the story moving at a steady but engaging pace. She cleverly inserted clues to keep me guessing until the final page. The book does include a few grammar mistakes and curse words, and in places, the story moves between time periods with no transition or warning, which is a bit confusing. However, I would recommend "The Mother-in-Law" to readers who enjoy a thrill and are interested in family dynamics and why we act the way we do.

4.5 Stars

We've all heard and read the stories about the notorious, mean and, ruthless mother-in-law, and I thought going into Sally Hepworth's newest book that this was going to be another story about that kind of mother-in-law, come on, you know the one! Trust me, though, you've never met a mother-in-law like Diana, the namesake in Hepworth's intensely complex book The Mother-in-Law...

Diana has been found dead, and it initially looks like she's committed suicide since there is a note found nearby yet an autopsy soon points to homicide leaving every member of the family suspect as they all seem to have some motive in wanting her dead.

Hepworth's writing is smooth, intoxicating, and mesmerizing as she plays into the twisted emotions surrounding Diana's death, the subsequent homicide investigation, and the build-up to the fateful day of Diana's death. The story is told through shifting POVs and time periods both past and present by Diana and Lucy, the daughter-in-law.

When Lucy married Ollie, she hoped to find in Diana a loving, caring mother-in-law since her own mother was dead but instead, she found a woman who was cold, aloof, practical, and emotionally distant not only to Lucy but also to her son Ollie, her daughter, Nellie, and her son-in-law, Patrick.

Yet, Diana has no problems being loving and caring towards pregnant refugees who need money, jobs, and places to live, yet she won't raise a hand or give any money to help her own children when they need it. Instead, her philosophy, at total odds from her husband Tom, is that they have to stand for themselves no matter what the situation or the repercussion.

Diana is undoubtedly the center of this family with her controlling ways although she may not have realized it because as you get deeper into the chapters and learn more about Diana, you discover all isn't as it seems. Is she cold and aloof? Yes. Is she emotionally distant? Very. But there's more to her than meets the eye, and her behavior and attitudes have reasons, which is all slowly and skillfully revealed throughout the book.

Still, I had to decide if I liked Diana or if I didn't while reading, and I'm still unsure of that. There were parts of her that I abhorred and parts that I understood, which I think can be said about so many book characters, and she's certainly not the only unlikeable/likable character in this novel. However, I thought she was by far the most complex even though Hepworth did an absolutely brilliant job bringing each of her characters to life. 

The Mother-in-Law is a compelling and powerful domestic mystery that examines the dynamics between not only daughters-in-law and their mothers-in-law, but husband and wives, sisters and brothers, mothers and daughters, as well as family relationships as a whole. It is a book with some moments that will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor because they're so unexpected and twisted with suspense--that ending! I didn't see it coming at all!

I love Hepworth's books because she really is a brilliant storyteller who writes superb characterizations and well-executed plots. I highly recommend you get a copy of The Mother-in-Law as soon as you can; it comes out on April 23, 2019!!

**Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC to read in exchange for my fair and honest review.**

Fast-paced and full of twists and turns, this book did not disappoint. I really enjoyed seeing events from both the daughter-in-law’s POV and the mother-in-law’s. It brought an interesting depth to the story. I also liked the author’s using chapters in the past and present to tell the story. I did find the ending a bit weak, however.

All in all, though, this was a very enjoyable book and I think it would make a great book club selection. Think of the discussions this book could start!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The first time that Lucy met her future mother-in-law her high hopes of a close bond were dashed. Lucy had lost her own mom to cancer, and longed for a motherly figure to fill that void.
Through a series of missteps, miscommunications and unspoken words, Lucy and Diana built an invisible wall between themselves. Now Diana is dead of an apparent suicide and a delicate spider web of secrets is about to be swept away.
I think anyone who enjoys a good mystery is a perfect fit for this book, but more than that, anyone who has a Mother-in-Law or is one herself may see fragments of themselves in the relationship between Diana and Lucy.

I received this ARC and read this in less than 24 hours! Very well written compelling thriller-mystery. I had guessed the twist but still liked the way it played out.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin”s Press for the ARC.

This is just as good as every other Sally Hepworth novel, and one I could hardly put down. I read it yesterday and had certain thoughts and points of view and thought my analysis was complete.

In the shower today, where we all do our best thinking, I looked at it from a different point of view. No spoilers, but entirely from Nettie”s point of view, and that hit me so hard because I went through the same process and procedures that she did. Yet, somehow, I hadn’t had that running through my head while reading this book.

It’s a complicated family, as most are, but in the end, I really enjoyed this. I always look forward to a new novel from Ms. Hepworth and can’t wait for her next one.

Solid 4 1/2 stars.

Reading The Mother-in-Law while preparing for my upcoming wedding may not have been the best choice at the time, but what a good book this was! Everyone should go purchase this when it is published on April 23!

The Mother-in-Law is told from two points of view, Lucy and her mother-in-law Diana. Lucy was thrilled about marrying Ollie, who wouldn't be excited about getting married?! She has high hopes to establish a special relationship with Diana, but unfortunately it isn't in the cards.

The book begins with the police showing up and Lucy and Ollie's house, announcing that Diana, Lucy's mother-in-law is dead, by suicide. Or was it? Nothing about Diana's death seems to add up, leading Lucy to question everything.

The Mother-in-Law is filled with shocking twists and turns. I couldn't wait to finish so I could piece together the mystery.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! My first by this author and certainly not my last. It begins with he death of Diana Goodwin, aka "The Mother-in-Law". A suicide note has been found near her body due to the cancer consuming her body. Small glitch, autopsy shows no cancer.
The story jumps back 10 years from the perspectives of Diana & Lucy, her daughter in law. Some really good twists and so many missed opportunities, but the part that really shines is the relationship between Diana and Lucy. All is definitely not what it seems.

I really enjoyed this book! I really enjoyed how it was written using the different character point-of-views and also how it went back and forth between the past and present.
It kept me guessing all the way to the end and the ending especially really surprised me. I definitely reccomend this book - you need to read this!

The Mother-In-Law was a fun and fast read, but ultimately it was really easy to figure out perpetrator of Diana’s death. I am glad that I read this one, but overall it felt like it was missing something.

Lucy first meets Diana when Ollie brings her home for family dinner. Unfortunately the meeting does not go off as Lucy expected and there were not initially warm and fuzzies. In fact she overheard Diana throwing around the word “fine.” As their relationship progresses the novel is told surrounding the same events, but from each Diana and Lucy’s perspectives.

While going through these stories it is clear that both Diana and Lucy have a mutual respect for each other. Unfortunately, this makes it feel as though a lot of the stories are useless with just brief nuggets that tie back to the actual plot.

Thank you to those tagged in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this book! I went in not knowing what to expect, but I had a pretty bad run with thrillers like this last year and was skeptical. But this book changed my mind. I wasn't able to see the twist coming until right up at the very end so I was left wondering with the police who exactly had killed Diana, or if it had been a murder at all. I liked that it gave you the backstory of so many of the characters, letting you really see where each was coming from and I liked that Diana sees herself as helping and being such a good mother in law while Lucy can't stand her, but each is coming from their own past that slowly starts to make sense as you read. It was a good book with really good characters.

You can pick your partner, but you can’t choose your mother-in-law...

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth is a domestic thriller, but it isn’t your typical mother-in-law story. This book is told from two perspectives, Lucy, the daughter-in-law and Diana, the mother-in-law.

Lucy falls in love with Ollie and like most women really wants his mother to like her. Diana is not so interested in having a loving relationship with Lucy though. When Diana is found dead that’s when we get to learn more about her past and what made her the woman she was. The real question though is who killed her and why?

I really liked that this book told the story from both perspectives. You usually just get to read the daughter-in-law’s perspective about her evil mother-in-law, but this story gave us insight into why Diana behaved the way she did towards Lucy. It gave us more understanding as to why she seemed so standoffish even if that wasn’t always how she meant to be.

I had an advanced readers copy so I did find some issues with grammatical errors which I assume will be fixed before it’s published. I also wish they would put an actual date/time rather than past/present to understand the timeline better.

I really liked this book and look forward to reading more books by Sally Hepworth. I definitely recommend it for fans of domestic thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.