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.

I adored this book. I really enjoy Hepworth’s writing style and the voice she gives her characters. An engaging read that I would definitely recommend. This story of relationships within a family is very relatable & keeps you engaged.

I like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book.much of it was unexpected but so wonderful! I a truly thankful to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it, to St. Martin’s Press for publishing it and also to thank Sally Hepworth for writing such a different yet delightful book. The characters were all so vivid including the children, the story line absolutely believable and the ending just right. I could go on but my best words would have to be Read This!

This book has perfect timing. With the whole college scandal going on, the whole concept of what parents owe their children or how much help they should provide is especially apt.

Losing her mother to cancer when she’s a teenager, Lucy envisions becoming bosom buddies with her mother-in-law. That’s before she meets Diana, who has a frosty nature and is not the buddy sort.

I know many will see Diana as the cold, uncaring MIL, but I actually sympathized with her. Yes, some of the things she did were wrong, but overall, I appreciated her. She’s just a very practical woman, especially when it comes to money.

Hepworth does a wonderful job of pointing out how different families have different standards regarding money. In fact, not just families, but spouses. As Tom says, “it’s about support...whether to give it or not.” But It's also a question of whether you’re doing your kids a favor by giving them everything on a silver platter. I’ve seen way too many trust fund babies grow up without a lick of ambition.

I also loved how she points out, again and again, the way we let moments get away from us. The chance to say thank you...i love you...let me help.

This isn’t a fast paced book. Hepworth takes her time setting up the scenario. I liked this approach and found it a relaxing break after so many roller coaster ride mysteries. The book alternates between the past and the present, between Diana and Lucy. And I also have to give Hepworth credit for a thought provoking book. I did a lot of highlighting with this book, something I hardly ever do with a mystery.

And i must have changed my mind ten times over the course of the book as to the who in the whodunit. As it was, I never did figure it out before the big reveal.

My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

I just adored this book, The Mother-In-Law, since having a mother-in-law and recently becoming a mother-in-law, I was totally curious along with my being a fan of Sally Hepworth. The story is wonderfully suspenseful as it is interesting learning to love (or not) the characters. This story is told mostly through the daughter-in-law (Lucy) and the mother-in-law (Diane), along with the rest of the small family. I was thoroughly entertained, amused, and surprised. It does have a bit of the “Agatha Christie” romp to it. Give it a go, you’ll be happy you did, whether there is a mother-in-law in your life or not! 4.5 ⭐️ Thank you #NetGalley #TheMotherInLaw #SallyHepworth #StMartinsPress

I really enjoyed this book, a fantastic, emotional read which had me gripped.

A tale of deception and all not being as it seems, plus, a refreshing new take on the, slightly tired, mother-in-law themes that have been quite prevalent recently.

I'll be checking out her other work! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Another thriller/mystery that earns 4 stars! This was a quick and entertaining novel that I would recommend adding to your TBR list. I loved how there would be a crazy story from Lucy’s point of view, followed by Diane’s point of view and rationale for her actions. The two points of view throughout the story, alternating past and present as well, provided an interesting story-line. I enjoyed this thriller since it had the appropriate amount of twists coupled with intense family drama. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! Publish date 4/23/19. Review will be posted tomorrow on my Instagram as well @readingnookreviews

3.5 Stars

“How many people does it take to kill a rich old lady? I only wish I knew.”

When the police show up at Ollie and Lucy’s house to inform them Ollie’s mother Diana has been found dead of an apparent suicide, everyone appears to be shocked. But that’s nothing compared to their reactions when it’s discovered there were no traces of the poison which was found next to her in her bloodstream and, in fact, it appears she may have been smothered instead. The remainder of the book rotates in timehops from 10-years in the past to the present where the reader learns all about the Goodwin family dynamics, how relationships evolved and what made Diana the person she was.

The Mother-In-Law is receiving its Stars purely for the readability factor. This was 100% a Lifetime Murder Mystery type of selection so if that’s not your cuppa, well . . . . sorry, but not really.

Personally, I loooooooooooooooooooove family dramas. And surprisingly, parts of me really ended up kind of loving parts of Dianna as well. Probably because it was like looking in a mirror. Maybe not 100%, but I’m definitely not of the touchy-feely variety, not extroverted, keep things close to the vest, etc., etc., etc. which often translates to cold or bitchy to others. And hell, let’s face it, sometimes I’m just cold and bitchy. Life’s too short to pretend you like people that you don’t.

That’s not to say I didn’t have some problems with this story. While Diana’s reasoning behind her decisions when it came to offering a hand up were eventually explained, I didn’t buy it. Yes, as a parent you want to raise children who will eventually not live in your basement and become contributing members of society, but she had already done that. Offering a pittance when asked that would remove PMI (that’s mortgage insurance for you youngsters - and lemme tell you it’s a rip-off) due being able to drop a full 20% down payment on a house purchase is not going to result in a son/daughter-in-law who are dregs on society. There were other moments that pinged my hinky meter as well, but I don't want to get spoilery. I'm also still rounding up rather than down because I was totally invested in this and read it cover-to-cover without hardly taking a breath so there's no reason to get super nitpicky. My enjoyment level never waned.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

A mother-in-law who didn't like you from the second she met you.

A mother-in-law who had a secret from her youth.

A mother-in-law who loved her charity more than she loved her kids, and told them they just can't have things given to them.

A mother-in-law who disinherited her children a few days before her death but had her reasons.

A mother-in-law who was found dead with a suicide note but with circumstances that didn't point to suicide.

And...a mother-in-law who actually wasn't that bad after all was said and done.

But....could a family member be involved in her death? Would you think a family member would do that to their mother/mother-in-law?

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW moved along quickly with the short chapters revealing all present and past family situations and giving information about how Diana treated her children and their spouses and how she felt about her charity.

The book is filled with secretive characters that keep you from actually knowing what they are thinking or planning to do or even if they are telling the truth.

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW is an all-around good domestic suspense with a few twists that pop up and that might have you looking at some of your family members in a different light.

It will also keep you guessing if a family member did kill Diana or if she committed suicide.

Ms. Hepworth has written another book with family at the heart of it as always as well as other things to ponder. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy has a pretty normal life. She's happily married to Ollie, has 3 kids and is a stay-at-home mom. Her only real problem is her mother-in-law, Diana. Diana has always been "frosty" to Lucy despite Lucy's efforts to get along. It's a bit of an issue at family get-togethers, but it's one Lucy has learned to live with. Until the day the police show up at Lucy's door with bad news.

The book alternates between Lucy's point of view and Diana's, and between the past and the present. We learn how and why Diana treats Lucy the way she does and the consequences of their relationship.

This book ended up being more serious than I expected, but it was still a quick read and I really enjoyed it. It's very well written with great character development.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This kept me guessing (and invested) until the end. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty (Hepworth is also Australian) and family drama with a bit of suspense.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Money, greed, and murder. There was a good amount of mystery and each time I thought I had figured it out there was a twist that sent me in another direction. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was right up my alley - I love a good novel full of tension and this one did not dissapoint. It actually took me by surprise - I thought I knew what the story was going to be like and it threw me for a loop in the depth and twist and turns that it took. I could barely putting this down, finishing it quickly as I devoured each chapter. I promptly added this author to my favorites list and went in search of other books by her. I highly recommend this book!

Secrets, lies, money and greed can create deadly consequences.

The Mother-in-Law is a brilliant book that tells the story of Lucy and her Mother-in-Law, Diana’s, complex, strained and at times tense (on the verge of hateful) relationship. When Diana is found dead, the wickedness escapes into the pages and weaves a tale that leaves you entranced. Was it suicide or was it murder?

An amazing, twisted, sordid read that gets my 5 star approval! The Mother-in-Law is a must read for 2019.❤️

Probably best not to pick this one up when you have a lot of cleaning to do. This page turner was a lot more compelling than my chore list this weekend! After losing her own mother, Lucy is very eager to meet her future mother-in-law Diana but their relationship is vastly different than what Lucy expected. Sally Hepworth develops characters with surprising depth and reveals each layer to us little by little.

Ugly cry risk: Low
Chance of getting cleaning done before finishing the book: Extremely Low
You'll enjoy this if you're a fan of: Liane Moriarty
Conclusions: Momming is hard. Don't judge a book by it's cover (re: characters....not the actual book and its cover)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest feedback.

Lucy is married to Oliver. One day there's a knock on the door and they find out that Oliver's mother, Diana, is dead. Suspected suicide. Despite their differences, Lucy is just as devastated as Oliver and indeed the rest of the family that Diana has left behind.
But then, after the autopsy points to suffocation rather than suicide, fingers start to point to various members of the family and we flash back to Oliver and Lucy's early days of going out. To when Lucy met Oliver's family and how her relationships with them, especially Diana, started to form. As more and more secrets start to out, concerning more than just Lucy, Diana and Oliver, it becomes evident that there is much more going on behind closed doors than face value suggests.
There's a lot going on in this book and I am not just talking about all the secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour exhibited by various characters along the way. The story is told by two people; Diana and Lucy and we see both side of their relationship as it starts, forms, develops and changes along the way. We also see two sides of some of the things that happen in the book as there are scenes that are replayed by either Lucy or Diana in turn. I found these to be very interesting and quite cleverly done, gave me food for thought anyway. If there was ever a book that nails the masks we wear with other people, this is that book. So many times along the way I was shouting at the characters to just be honest and communicate, but then, if they had done that, there wouldn't be a story to tell... Diana was a bit of a cold fish, but she has her reasons for what she does. Lucy tried everything to break down her barriers, to warm her up, rather than just accept the distant relationship they had. And then there's Diana's charity work which deserves more here but I'm reluctant to spill due to spoilers.
This was definitely a book with two themes for me. To examine the relationships between both family and extended family and also to get to the bottom of what happened to Diana. I am pleased to say that it satisfied on both. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I loved this book! It was such a fun, light read, but well-written and not too obvious a solve. I did consider it but it was a good one where I considered most characters as a possible suspect. The characters were well-developed and multi-dimensional.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

The positive:

The writing is good in this novel. Characters are well defined and you get a good picture regarding the setting and contrast between personalities. A book that can invoke emotion from you is a good book. I loved the mother-in-law and disliked the self-entitled daughter in-law. I swear Lucy had a stick up her butt. In reality, she was simply damaged by her mother’s abandonment when her mother died. She was looking for a new mommy and the new mommy was about making you stronger, not weaker by handing you everything. You can’t afford the house. You best wait until you can or buy something cheaper. What a bitch.  Needless to say this novel is more about family dynamics than a who done it? As far as I can tell, there were zero clues until the end of the book.

The negative: Time jumps. I hate time jumps. It stopped the flow of the story cold multiple times. As soon as the police arrive to announce the death, we jump back to where Lucy (the daughter-in-law) was ten years ago. It is here Lucy meets her mother-in-law and takes her first slight. Back to the present.  Stick up Lucy’s butt or not, she is sad at the death. And so it continues with a bunch of time jumps, including all the way back to when the mother in law gives birth to her first born. None of this give us any clues as to whether the death is a murder or a suicide.

The positive: the characters are a bit complex. And Lucy is not as bad as I made her out to be. I was simply impatient with her and I’m proud of her growth.

I would recommend this novel if you like family drama and are interested in getting to know who the characters are and what drives them. I would not recommend it if you are looking for a good who done it mystery.

(4.5) This book had me hooked from the beginning. I loved the two main characters, Diana and Lucy (especially Diana, the mother-in-law), and really enjoyed seeing what happened to their relationship and how it changed over time. I thought this book was going to be a suspenseful thriller but it ended up being full of heart and some good life lessons.

From their very first meeting, the relationship between Lucy and her future mother-in-law, Diana, is strained and not at all what Lucy had hoped. Ten years later, Diana is dead. Even though it appears to be a suicide, the autopsy points to murder. Even though Diana’s death is revealed from the onset, <i>The Mother-in law</i> is not a mystery. Told through the eyes of these two main characters, there are a number of other interesting characters – most of whom are not very likeable and, as it turns out, all are hiding something.

Once I realized this wasn’t a typical murder mystery, I kept pushing despite the slow build and times the story got bogged down in repetitive descriptions of daily living. But, just past half way, the layers began to reveal some interesting, and surprising, dynamics in play. Some original turns in the story took it to a whole different level - more complex and intriguing. Even though the final twist was a surprise, I’m still debating its credibility and how it made me feel. Bottom line is that <I>The Mother-in-law</i> earned stars for being both thought-provoking as well as entertaining,


FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.