This book had an interesting plot with a more interesting conclusion. I definitely didn't see the ending coming - not the who or the why. It was a thriller with different twists at every corner.

Yet another brilliant twisty thriller from one of my favourite authors.

Sam and Lauren are childhood sweethearts, always destined to marry. Unfortunately, only a few months in to their marriage tragedy hits. Lauren is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in the new marital home. Did she fall or was she pushed?

This story had so many twists and family secrets to it that I couldn’t stop reading. I suspected everyone!

Written in chapters where Georgie (Mother in law to Lauren) is telling the story. A different way of writing than I am used to but I found it easy to follow as it was well written. Georgie is trying to uncover who and why? Just as she thinks she knows, another twist to the story makes her doubt her initial suspect.

If you enjoy thrillers based on family secrets and lies then this is for you.

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc.

I absolutely love this authors books and they just get better and better. I knew once I started reading this I wouldn’t be able to put it down and I was correct. I devoured it in one sitting. It was a twisty turny family psychological drama that was a complete page Turner and kept me on my toes while reading. I was kept guessing right up until the end. The characters all had their own stories that were intertwined in the web of lies and deceit that they all were creating in their own way and how their stories all slotted together to find out the truth.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Bookouture and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Gripping, thrilling full of twists and turns. Keeps you wanting more.

Sue Watson does a fantastic job of bringing to light the saying ‘You never know what happens behind closed doors’. With the synopsis promising a gripping psychological thriller I was very excited to read this book and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint!

Lauren and Sam are childhood sweethearts and both sides of the family are very close. Everything is going perfectly until Lauren is killed shortly after their wedding and the family begin to look suspiciously at each other. Who killed Lauren? Surely it couldn’t be anybody in the family?

The only thing I will say is that the story is primarily told through the internal monologue of Lauren’s mother-in-law, Georgie, which caused it to be a touch repetitive in places.

‘The New Wife’ was such a fantastic mystery and it had me guessing until the end! I love all of Sue’s books and this one was no exception. What created a fabulous atmosphere was the location; the moors on Dartmoor. I imagined the scenes playing out within this sparse and baron backdrop, set amongst nature and not much else. I could picture this desolate house and the loneliness that might ensue.

I enjoyed the interactions and drama amongst the characters. I found Lauren’s family totally intriguing, and I loved some of the tensions that played out through dinner and visits. They certainly had me nail biting. As it was all told from Georgie’s perspective, I felt I got to know her character deeply and I liked being in her head. The actual writing style is like revisiting an old friend. Within moments, I’d slipped into the story, allowing the voice to carry me through the whole lot.

I can totally recommend ‘The New Wife.’ If you’re after an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that won’t allow you to put it down, this is it. It quickly bites and it doesn’t let go!

This is my first book by this author and I was drawn by the synopsis.

This is a good psychological thriller, it kept me guessing as to who and what lead to cause the death of Lauren only 4 months after she got married to Sam.

What I thought was a bit unusual was that the book was told through the eyes of Lauren’s mother in law -Georgie.

Georgie was deeply invested in the case. She loved Lauren like her own daughter and was very close with Lauren’s parents. We were told far too many times throughout the book what a wonderful family they were and what a great and close relationship they all shared ever since Lauren and Sam where kids.

Georgie was like Jessica Fletcher from the Murder She Wrote TV series, making her own list of suspects, formulating her own reasons on why they could have been Lauren’s killer.

There was a lot of internal monologue and this was definitely a case of telling me the story rather than showing me. It was quite repetitive on the past memories they all shared but I must admit I never guessed who the killer was or why, so quodos to the author for that.

I have to admit that I could not put his book down! It started slow and calm, and very quickly the plot has twisted and I couldn't stop reading! Highly recommended book!

Does anyone truly know their friends and family? You would be very surprised in alot of cases with what goes on when they are home and behind closed doors. Nothing is usually as it seems..

I have read a few of Sue's books and I loved them so when i got approved for this arc i couldnt wait to dive in.i wasnt disappointed.

Sue has done it again. So many twist and turns and i couldnt stop guessing. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time.

I definitely recommend.

Thank you to netgalley and bookouture.

Thoughts and opinions are my own and only my own.

Sam and Lauren are childhood sweethearts. Lauren’s Mom and Dad are best friends with Sam’s Mom. The Jackmoore’s are one big happy family. Until three months after Sam and Lauren are married tragedy strikes. Lauren is dead. Sam is charged with her murder. Sam’s mother, Georgie knows he’s innocent. Who is hiding the darkest secret of all? And who killed Lauren?
This dark psychological thriller is filled with so many secrets, cover-ups, and lies. My head was spinning trying to keep everything straight. The ending left me hanging! So good! Loved this book by Sue Watson. I read her book, The Forever Home, a few months back and this book was amazing!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

My review has been posted to my IG @thrillersandcoffee

This was an engaging, twisty psychological thriller.

Watson pits two families united in marriage and murder against each other slowly in this quick-moving thriller. When childhood sweethearts Lauren and Sam wed and then Lauren dies shortly after, all the characters question who could have done the crime. Eventually even the narrator and single mother of Sam questions his history and intentions. But how well do we ever know anyone?

This was an interesting book. I became a little annoyed with the narrator for never speaking up or pinning anyone down, but overall, I would recommend this thriller.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley.com for my advance copy.

The New Wife by Sue Watson
I give this book 4 stars


My darling son, Sam, is marrying his childhood sweetheart.If I hadn’t pushed them,he might never have found a girl as perfect as Lauren. It’s true what they say, mother always knows best.

But weeks later, Lauren is dead. As they question Sam, I sense he’s hiding something.

My son’s beautiful new wife was hiding a dangerous secret. Can I clear my son’s name? And could my life be in danger now too?

A quick and easy read from an author l enjoy.lt kept me guessing as l read along.Suspense,secrets and twists.Well paced and well written.
With thanks to Netgalley,Sue Watson and Bookouture for my chance to read and review this book

I read a lot of this genre and I couldn’t guess the twist in this one.

I found a bit of the writing repetitive and I couldn’t warm to Sam at all. But I absolutely loved the ending!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first Sue Watson novel I have read and it certainly won't be my last. Full of slow building suspenseful tension and page turning twists, this psychological thriller was well written and original.

After the sudden death of a well respected newlywed, the reader is left questioning whether a tragic accident is to blame or if something or someone much more sinister is behind it all.

I enjoyed the narrative voice of Georgie and found it refreshing to read a murder mystery from the point of view of the mother of the accused. She was such an authentic and likeable character that she had you rooting alongside her the entire way.

The secluded cottage setting created an eerie background atmosphere and the final pages of the epilogue were surprisingly unexpected and unsettling! I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a quick read and the twists and turns of a slow burn thriller.

A fantastic read, full of intrigue and family secrets, great twist at the end. My heart went out to the son who lost his wife so tragically and the fracturing of the 2 families was incredibly well written, highly recommended

You think you know your family members and best friends. Turns out you do not. In fact, you are quite clueless. Your son marries his best friend since childhood, the girl of his dreams. She is also the daughter of your best friends. you are all one happy family, until you are not. Your new daughter-in-law is found dead at home. The main suspect is your son. What really happened?

I enjoy the way Watson writes. She gives you a bit of information here, a hint there, but you are not really sure where this will take you. You know there will be twists and turns, but you still can't expect everything that happens. There is one thing though that I wonder. Can someone really be so gullible and clueless? Can one person be this fooled by people around her? I am not saying it wouldn't be possible, but I still wonder. Otherwise this is exactly the kind of creepy book I expect and enjoy by this author. I always know I'm about to take a gritty rollercoaster ride I won't regret!

I have been a hit late to the Sue Watson party, but now that I have discovered her she is very quick becoming one of my favourites.

I love Sue's writing style. It reminds me of the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race. I know I will get a well rounded storyline with plenty of back story with added snippets of relevant information.

I love reading these books. I know I can take my time, but by the time everything starts coming out I very quickly whizz through the last half of the book because it gets so hard to put down.

Very much looking forward to a more relaxed read with Sue's next book it's the perfect break from my usual read.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The New Wife by Sue Watson is a twist-filled mystery that will have you guessing until the end! The story revolves around Georgie, the middle-aged mother whose charming son Sam has just married his high school sweetheart Lauren. Georgie is dating her boyfriend, James, and Lauren's parents have been happily married for years. Everything seems perfect. When Lauren is found dead a few weeks later, and Sam is arrested, Georgie is crushed. How could this have happened to the perfect couple? Was Sam hiding dangerous secrets from his mother? Was Lauren? And did someone else in their close circle have a reason to kill Lauren?

Here is a chilling excerpt from the Prologue, which is from Georgie's point of view:

"Lauren laughed such a lot, perfect white teeth, sparkly eyes, the elegant, inelegant way she hoisted up her bustier, causing her tiara to wobble, making her giggle - she could never be serious for long. Then my pride, as Sam walked into shot, as always, her safety net, reaching to help her steady the fairy princess headwear. Just seconds of chaos, but I'll always treasure the photo on my phone, the tiara echoing the gossamer veil, with a whisper of freshwater pearls lopsided, the two of them looking into each other's eyes, laughing, their happiness caught in a web of sunshine.
But just three months later, Lauren was dead."

Overall, The New Wife is an unputdownable novel of domestic suspense that will appeal to readers of Sophie Hannah or Kiersten Modglin. I could not put this book down, and I ended up finishing this book in a few sittings. I had to keep reading to find out the truth behind Lauren's death. One highlight of this book is the multiple red herrings. I could not stop guessing who the real murderer was. It reminded me of classic mysteries, like those by Agatha Christie or Murder, She Wrote. If I had to complain about one thing, I would say that there is little to no action or "thrills." However, if you're looking for a low-key, cozy mystery-type vibe, then this is the perfect book for you. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you enjoy domestic suspense novels in general, then I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in November!

This book is full of twists and turns from the start all the way to the last few pages. Every time I thought I’d figured it out another curveball was thrown into the mix. It definitely makes you consider what’s really going on in ‘perfect’ families.

Sue Watson explores the complications that ensue when two childhood sweethearts, Sam and Lauren, marry and 3 months later one of them is found dead. She draws attention to the idea that we don’t always see people we love for who they truly are nor for the damage they cause.

Watson’s choice to set this psychological thriller in Dartmoor is perfect! She channels the thick, rising mists, the extreme cold and highlights the bleak emptiness of life on the moorland. Readers get a real sense of the main characters’ new home being miles away from anyone and anything. The lack of street lighting and neighbours creates fear, suspension and tension. She expertly contrasts this dark side of Devon with the more widely recognized, touristy parts known for the beautiful beaches. In doing so, she brings our attention to her magnificent cast of characters. Like Devon, these people have two sides - the one they present to the world and a darker, more secret side. You’ll love the vulnerable characters and will be rooting for them, your ‘spidey senses’ will be alerted with the creepy friends, you’ll want to go to the cottage to investigate for yourself, and you’ll be hoping for vindication for all involved - and this will leave you emotionally drained.

The narrator and mother of the accused is loved by all and has a rose-tainted view of her inner circle. The story is told in flashbacks, highlighting her struggle to accept the accusations and, when a different view of reality is shared by characters, it adds to the narrative conflict. Who do readers believe?

In addition to the superb setting and characters, Watson knows how to pace a killer suspense. The cerebral tension is continually increased, keeping readers on edge as the plot builds toward the climax. Who killed this newlywed? Was it an accident? Homicide? Why?

My to-do list today remains untouched as the mind-numbing anticipation of whodunnit robbed me of any desire to do something mundane! I must say that the last quarter of the book with its stellar epilogue kept ruminating in my mind LONG after I’d turned the last page.

This five-star whodunnit needs to top your Fall reading list come Nov. 19, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Sue Watson, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.