absolutely loved this novel, as I did the same by this amazing author. She weaves a twisted net and the reader immediately gets wrapped up in it. Can’t recommend it enough!

This was such a captivating and heartbreaking story. I totally adored it from the beginning till the end.

First of all Dan Riley is a gem. You just have to love him the way he goes about the investigation and how he remains true to himself. No way that will he be manipulated. Justice is what he is after, even when his future could be on the line.

We meet Beth and Cath. For a very long time you have not the slightest idea how their stories will come together. But fear not, they will and from that moment on, their lives are about to change.

The author certainly knows how to describe emotions. I felt the pain, fear and frustration both women went through. How hard must it be when you are standing with your back against the wall and there is nothing you can do about it, because you are afraid or don't have enough money. And then there is Karma with capital K ...

I was sucked into the story and I kept on turning the pages, eager to find out what would be coming next. A brilliant story, without a doubt. 5 stars.

Thank you, Anna-Lou Weatherley and Bookouture

When I started this book, I didn't realize it's the third in a series featuring Detective Dan Riley. And by the time I finished, I was bummed that I haven't read the other two. That's not because this one doesn't stand alone - it does just fine on that score, thank the author very much - but rather because I really like the character. Oh well - now I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

The story follows two abused women; Beth's suffering is largely psychological, bestowed by her cold, uncaring but wealthy husband and father of their young daughter. For love, she turns to an affair with a man who isn't shy about showing affection to her or her daughter. Catherine's abuse is both psychological and physical, the latter often turning so violent that she ends up in the hospital. In part because her husband threatens to kill her if she leaves - and in part because she has no clue what she would do even if she did - she stays in the marriage but fears the worst.

Ultimately, Beth tells her husband Evan that she's found a new love and wants a divorce; he shows little emotion even then, but there's a not-so-thinly-veiled threat that he'll use his money and power to discredit Beth and gain custody of their daughter (at the very least). Riley gets involved early on when the couple's nanny and Beth's dear friend Marta goes missing and Beth calls in the police.

Marta's disappearance remains a mystery that stymies the police, but then "things" happen to other key characters in both women's worlds that require further police investigation. The "aha" moment, if you will, comes when Beth and Catherine actually meet; at that point it's clear (or at least it was to me) how the story would progress. The only question is specifically how it will end for the two women. Of course, I won't divulge anything except to say there are a couple of twists.

Although a few parts seemed a bit repetitive and I've read variations on this plot before, overall this is an easy-to-read, fast-paced and attention-holding book. In fact, I was grateful for the holiday lull in regular TV programming that allowed me to finish the remaining quarter without stopping - simply because I couldn't wait to get to the end. Well done, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Thank you Anna-Lou Weatherley for The Strangers Wife. When I picked this up I was starting to think I was having a reading slump as my previous 2 kindle reads had not been great and my current audio book isn't grabbing me either. The Strangers Wife has broken the drought in a big way - fantastic and addictive! I would have read this a lot quicker if it hadn't been for Christmas and a lot less reading on my part. But my goodness, this book is good!!

While this is book 3 to feature Dan Riley it can absolutely be read as a stand alone. Although in saying that, you will want to read the previous 2 books after reading this - I have read them all and really enjoyed them. This is not a series where the life of the police officers are very closely followed. There is a story there and we do have some idea of what is happening - and Dan is in a very tricky situation - but the main story is the case.

A story of 2 women and their husbands. Cath is a woman who is being physically abused by her husband and is struggling to get away from him. Beth on the other hand is having an affair and decided to leave her husband - on the day that her nanny goes missing. The 2 women have very different loves, but when they meet they can see each other in themselves. I won't spoil the story for you but it is clever and addictive and you will have to read it for yourself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

Thank you Bookouture and Net Galley for an early copy of The Stranger’s Wife. I really enjoyed this book, a little far-fetched between the two main characters but kept my interest up. I loved the ending! Very fast paced, a good read.

Beth came home to find her nanny, Marta missing. Eighteen months after Marta’s disapperance Beth found solice in Nick. Beth soon asked her husband, Evan, for a divorce. However, she did not know her husband very well. Soon her life spiral out of control. Beth’s daugher, Lily, accused Nick of sexual assualt. Her mother died, Nick is no longer with her and Lily was taken away. 

Captivating! The story does not have that many twists, but the mystery was still good. Back story of Beth and Evan was not truly explored. It would have made a nice foundation if the story had explored deeper into Evan’s childhood. The story was written mostly in the present. There were no background to any characters. It doesn’t make a great read as it doesn’t explain the catalyst that set everything in motion. It makes the characters feel like they were not fully developed. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another really good psychological thriller mingling well with police procedural thanks to ‘Dan’ who is back

Firstly I really like Dan, no flies on him, he loves his police work and takes it seriously but without being pompous or heavy handed, he has no sides to him and he really is one of the ‘good guys’, he does have a personal life that comes into the story but doesn’t overpower it or take over from the main tale

So that’s Dan, the policeman

Now meet Beth and Cath
Both women with troubled lives, both abused in very different ways, both needing an escape
Both look identical and by chance meet on a train....

The story then follows Beth and Cath and what they do to rid themselves of their respective ‘problem’

Its a clever, precise, dark and moving story with more twists and turns than most, they keep coming and it keeps you on your toes and flicking those pages

The book does cover abuse amongst other things but done in a non glorifying way and needed for the story

Elements of ‘Sliding Doors’ are here and all in all its a tense exciting and unique story that thriller lovers wont be able not to enjoy, well written, easy to visualise and addictive

10/10
5 Stars

Another hit by Anna-Lou Weatherly! She’s one that I will definitely be hitting on click buy on and you should too! This book was absolutely gripping from page one and had me chopping at my bits to get into it and enjoy it! That I did, full of twists, turns, shocks, chills, thrills and much more! Well written, original, and sure to blow your mind! Grab your copy today! This is one you do not want to miss!
Will make sure I buzz it up!!

Two stories in one. Seemingly opposites, the two tales have much more in common than one would first surmise.The author has done an excellent job of weaving together the two tales with a variety of characters.

Beth comes home to find her four year old daughter, Lily, sleeping and her 28 year old nanny/housekeeper/best friend, Marta - missing. Frightened, Beth calls the police after she finds Marta's scarf in the yard and her car in the driveway. The baby monitor is turned off. Marta is extremely reliable. (Also, Marta knows where Beth had been).

The police arrive and take information from Beth. Dan, who had recently lost his wife and unborn child, is the detective on the case. Evan, Beth's husband, comes home and is calming. Maybe too calming? Actually Beth and Evan's relationship is a cold one with little to no intimacy. Beth never really loved Evan - still she ignorantly chooses THAT evening to ask Evan for a divorce. Beth wants to be with Nick, who she fell in love with 6 months ago. Rich, controlling and arrogant Evan tells Beth that she will be sorry for leaving him...

Cath is in a parallel - yet different type of - life; bother and Beth being victims of domestic abuse. Although Beth has no physical scars, her abuse is psychological. Cath is beaten regularly by her partner, Saul. Saul is a drug/alcohol user, liar, cheater and thief. This, aside from the awful physical beatings he serves to Cath. Cath loses a full term baby after a particularly nasty beating and becomes gravely ill...

The reader is treated to two very different types of domestic situations - both horrible.

Excellent characterization and portrayal of domestic altercations. Highly suspenseful with twists you do not see coming.

HIGHLY recommend.

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for another fine read!

This book definitely doesn't hold back on the punches! It's bam, bam, bam (read the last three words as in the style of Motsi from Strictly) at the start of the book with all the action that takes places! 

Nanny missing!

Beth wants a divorce!

Accusations of child abuse! 

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The characters of Beth and Cath have a lot of similarities - vulnerability, violent partners, having to deal with loss, a child to protect. They are both complex women, Beth probably more so. But both have to suffer from domestic violence - whether that be physical violence or emotional control. 

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It really is spine-chilling having to read some of the pages and that is good as it gets the message across. It shouldn't happen and won't be tolerated. Now don't get me wrong, don't do what the characters do, but speak out and inform the police if you are suffering from this situation. 

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I felt this was a book of two halves. The tension from the first half disappears after the train meeting. I could work out at this point how the story would progress. However, it is in the later section you really understand how much of a d&ck Evan was and how this affected those around him. 

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The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is because of the ’list’ part of the story. The plot without this would have been horrific enough in its tale. But I can maybe see it is setting the story up for the next in the series. 

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This is a compelling page-turner of a book full of spine-tingling details which show the horror of domestic violence. An intrictly plotted book full of twists and turns. Get it on your TBR pile asap!