This book is fast paced and thrilling. It’s suspenseful and full of revenge. I enjoyed this story of Marlena, her troubled upbringing and all the drama.

<b>”Sometimes the horizon is bright because it’s on fire”</b>

I’ve had the eARC for “The third Mrs Durst” sitting on my kindle for more than a year, but as you fellow Netgalley enthusiasts will know, when you’re on a requesting spree you can find yourself with quite the number of books on your TBR and some of them stay there forgotten for a long time...Now I’m chastising myself for not reading it before! That was FUN!

Probably one of my favorite genres is the female revenge stories, and if it’s driven towards her psycho husband that’s absolutely heaven for me! This cat and mouse, rags to riches story may not be the most original one, in fact we’ve all read it hundreds of times before, but still managed to grabbed from the very beginning.

The pace didn’t slow down for a minute and things kept happening (maybe too many at some point). Michael Durst must be one of the most despicable (and over the top) characters I’ve ever read. Yes, we’ve got it, he’s a f*cking psycho! Maybe tone him down a little bit, cause at certain points he looked like a caricature! As you can imagine I was rooting for Marlena at all times, although she didn’t seem so sure of her plan all along.

My critique with this one is that, towards the end, there were certain aspects that required such a huge suspension of belief (as if the rest of the story didn’t require it, right? 😆) that detract a little from the fun I was having.

Perfect read if you’re in the mood for some over the top revenge story that, while not being innovative, will keep you entertained for a few hours.

Thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! A great story line that kept me hooked and excellent main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC. These are my own opinions

Wow! psychological thriller with violence, revenge, motive, planning and unpredictability all rolled into on.

Young innocent Marlene is in the run from a dead in life in the hills. Determined she sets out to change her life and make a success of herself.

She meets wealthy businessman Michael Durst who takes Marlene under his wing. Michael is a controlling husband, who demands perfection and obedience from his docile wife. As their married life develops secrets and more secrets come to the surface. Marlene sees no one out of the abuse except escaping with her own death. Or is their another way. Plans and more plans unroll and evolve in this thriller. Exactly who does Just need Killing? Who will be the victor?

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title. I will review this title at a different date.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy!

Did not finish - I could not connect with the plot or writing so I decided to put it down.

In the beginning it reminded me a lot of Fifty Shades of Gray, and excellent read from start to finish, this book certainly gets your adrenaline going

First, let me thank netgalley and the publishers for approving my request for an early release of this book. All reviews of my netgalley books can be found on goodreads and youtube. Please be sure to check out the links attached.

A twisted Cinderella story from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Ann Aguirre

Marlena Altizer Durst lives in her husband's shadow. He controls her every move—what she wears, the food she eats, and the friends she's allowed to make. If she disobeys, there are...consequences. And he has all the power.

To outsiders, it seems that she leads a fairy-tale life. But nobody ever wonders if Cinderella was happy after she married the prince. Marlena has traded freedom and safety for luxurious imprisonment, and most days, that seems like a bad bargain. Death may be the only exit she's allowed. Just like his first wife. And his second. Unless she flips the script.

To be honest, if you have read "Behind Closed Doors" you have read something just as similar. It wasn't compelling enough to me to read another book like that.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.
My review opinions are my own.
This is a exciting read with a thriller edge that kept me turning pages. The wife is out for revenge and she will stop at nothing to orchestrate her revenge plot against her abusive husband. I loved the surprising ending and hope to read more by this fine author. A thrilling read with just the right amount of excitement and surprises to keep you reading into the night.

This was an interesting story that I truly enjoyed reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A third wife a wealthy husband a wife who has it all including and unknown to others trapped in a gilded cage.A book of so many twists and turns a true page turner.There're shocks surprises a wild ride of areas.#netgalley#midnightink.

This was the first book I've read by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised. I found it difficult to put this book down, I just wanted to keep reading! Lots of twists and turns made for a fact paced, exciting book. Add it to your to be read list! Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my review. #TheThirdMrsDurst #NetGalley

The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre is a thrilling tale of revenge and justice, with a female lead you will not easily forget.

Summary

"...Some people just need killing. And maybe I'm one of them.
My husband certainly thinks so, but then, he feels that way about most women..."

Marlena Altizer lived dirt poor and at the age of sixteen, got on a bus and left all of it behind. She was lean and leggy and men always noticed her. For now, it was all she had going for her. But Marlena had a plan and she needed to put it into motion while she still could. She needed to become the third Mrs. Durst. She gets noticed by a modeling agency and soon she is on her way. She only had to be in the right place at the right time and Michael Durst would find her.

"...I know you, Marlena. From the first moment I saw you in Del Morton's office. I knew you would belong to me. I also understood that you were too young, and that I had to let you realize it on your own..."

Michael Durst is a very rich and powerful man. Marlena knows this and from the first time she saw him she knew that she had to become his wife. But sometimes fairytales don't come true just like you planned. Sometimes the Prince is also the Wolf in disguise.

"...You see? They realize how blessed you are, Marlena. Not many men would take such loving care of a sick wife.'
You made me this way, I wanted to scream. You poisoned me, then saved me to prove a point..."

The third Mrs. Durst lives in her exclusive and very beautiful penthouse. Everything she wants is given to her. But the problem is that everything she wants is what Mr. Durst decides for her. The beautiful penthouse, has a guard outside the door for her protection and to make sure she goes nowhere unaccompanied. Michael Durst is not only her husband, he is also her jailer. That is until he grows weary of her. Then, like the prior two Mrs. Durst, she will no longer exist.

Review

The Third Mrs. Durst is a story of female revenge on an abusive male that thrives to be so much more than that. It is a novel not about paying back the man that hurt you, no it is far more layered than that. The characters change who they are so much throughout the story that there are times you may actually feel more compassion for Michael Durst than you do for Marlena. But then he goes out and does another dick move that reminds you that no matter what happens, he deserves it. It is this layering and twists in the characters and who they really are that makes The Third Mrs. Durst stand above the glut of female revenge novels out there.

At first glance you may think this novel to be nothing more than another girl power, feminist rant against the patriarchy. But you would be so wrong. Ann Aguirre has woven a tale of mystery that borders on being Hitchcockian. The clues to the tale are there from the beginning, but they are subtle and craftily hidden. All the while, being in plain sight.

That my friends, is known as damn fine writing.

The Third Mrs. Durst is not a morality tale either. It is not a, look out rich, white men, we're coming to get you! No, the victims are at times, as devious and dark as the abusers are. What will you do, how much will you suffer to make him pay? That is the only morale question being asked.

Marlena is a character you will cheer for but never really trust. Her motives seem constantly changing but in the end, you see she never wavered. She is strong but at times very vulnerable. She is loving but cold and cruel as well.

She is a woman on a mission and she plans to take away all that was taken from her. Like the best of heros, she is frightening as well.

The Third Mrs. Durst is a really good read!

I didn't finish this book, nor am I posting it on my blog out of respect for the author. I love Ann Aguirre most of the time, but it isn't a secret she is hit and miss. The was a miss for me. The writing was choppy and the story wasn''t believable for me. I stopped at around 40 percent, because I hated the characters so much. This was one of my most anticipated releases and I was so excited when I got approved for it. The story itself sounded great, but wasn't executed properly.

A little different from what I normally read but really enjoyed it. It seemed a little far fetched in places but who knows what goes on behind others' closed doors.
Characters were believable and I so wanted a certain character to get what they deserved!
Highly recommended

Fans of MIchelle Campbell and Ruth Ware will enjoy The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre. From page one protagonist Marlena knows what she wants, and uses her skills and cunning to get it. After sacrificing and a series of what seem to be coincidence, she lands the coveted title of the third Mrs. Durst. But living the dream life soon turns scary, when she realizes that all her hard worth may just culminate in her untimely demise.

Foreshadowing and clues abound, so the "surprise" ending might not actually surprise the reader, but the story will keep you reading to the last page.

I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.

This was most definitely one of my favorite books of the year. The pacing of the book was perfect, not too fast or slow and as the plot unravels you want to keep turning the page more and more. By the end of the book, you cheered for the victor as the outcome was everything that was deserved.

Wow. Cinderealla turns Sinderella, gone rouge,

I was pretty impressed with this. Perhaps more 'action thriller' than psychological thriller, which is my usual bag. But good all the same. I couldn't particularly warm to any of the characters, however. None of them with the possible exception of Vin seemed like particularly 'good guys' but perhaps that's the point. The first half of the book was a lot easier to get through, I did find the last couple of chapters a slog. But I've always been a sucker for an underdog exacting revenge, and I did want to finish this, to see if Marlena managed to exact the revenge she was after.

Perhaps a tad un-believable, but then,what twisted fairy story is believable?


Many Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy :)