It should come as no surprise by now, but Lisa Regan has done it again. She masterfully weaves mystery, suspense, and heart into one pulse pounding roller coaster ride. This latest installment in the Detective Josie Quinn series is perfection.

The Josie Quinn series just got even better! Lisa Regan consistently delivers! This novel was immediately engrossing, as are all of her others. Her books never have a dull moment. She keeps me turning the pages and conducting my own investigation with the Denton PD while keeping me on the edge of my seat. This is one of my fave series, have I mentioned that?

A gruesome murder scene is where Josie is summoned. Claudia Collins, a therapist and television celebrity, is the victim. She co-hosts a well-liked television program about relationships with her husband, Beau Collins. Beau and Claudia seem to have the ideal marriage and life; they are the picture of perfection. Claudia and Bea were set to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary on the night she was found slain. They were intended to share with their viewers a lovely and romantic evening. Unfortunately, their carefully planned evening became tragic.

A blast from their past is also brought in to assist as Josie, Noah, and the others start their investigation. The assistance of Luke, Josie’s ex-fiance, and his dog is requested. Tension grows as more members of Bea and Claudia’s close circle start to vanish, and a killer is being sought.

Wooow! This novel was full of surprises and twists, and it did not disappoint! Lisa never let me stop wondering. Beau was being played with by the murderer as part of a game, but why? There are also diary entries, which intrigued and perplexed me at the same time. With each of Regan’s books, the suspense grows, Josie (mostly) and Noah are thrust into terrifying situations, and they have to find the perpetrator before another person perishes!

Action-packed, tense, and gripping. I adore every page in this series, which is one of my favorites series! Can this be read independently? Yes, Lisa Regan always provides sufficient background on her characters so that new readers won’t feel lost. Given that this is such an engrossing and compelling series, start with book 1 if you can.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley and Bookouture for the gifted eARC!

Short Review: Lisa Regan can do no wrong. (I should really just leave it at that…but I won’t. 😜)

This is one crime series I will never stop reading. Regan’s ability to bring this cast of characters to life time and time again is nothing short of masterful. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑾𝒊𝒇𝒆 is another fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventure that’ll leave long time fans of the series squealing—LUKE IS BACK. I repeat: Luke.Is.Back. 🫣

And for those of you reading this and seeing “book 16” on the cover—let me stop you from panicking. You can start at the beginning and immerse yourself in this series OR you can grab book 16 and still have more than a clue what’s going on. That’s how well Regan has crafted this series. And you definitely want to be reading it!

Every once in a while a thriller writer comes along, who is so good, that you'll never see the plot line coming. Lisa Regan is one of those authors. The Innocent Wife is number sixteen in the Josie Quinn series, but if you're thinking it must be a tired story by now, you'd be wrong. Its never been better. Regan has delivered a twist so crazy even I didn't see it coming.

When Detective Josie Quinn was called to the murder of a woman in her home, the scene was brutal. As people began to arrive for the anniversary dinner which was to be filmed for Claudia and husband Beau's popular TV show, Josie and Lieutenant Noah Fraley began to see that this wouldn't be an easy case to solve. When a second body was found, the team saw immediately that the puzzle box found at both scenes was a crucial part of what the killer was doing. He was playing a game, and it looked like anyone close to Beau would suffer.

Working around the clock with little sleep, frustrations were mounting as another body was found. Would Josie, Noah and the team of dedicated cops find the answers before anyone else died?

The Innocent Wife is the 16th in the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan and once again she's hit the nail on the head. One of my favourite series by one of my favourite authors - she's one I read immediately. This one was a well-worked plot, with many twists and plenty of red herrings. I loved it! I'm looking forward to the next in the series already! Highly recommended.

With thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

📺👤🎥He's loved, he's hated, he's a star!
4.5🌟 stars
Another fast-paced and twisting crime spree in central Pennsylvania with Detective Josie Quinn being her strong, determined self as she leads the investigation into a TV personality's murder and the additional criminal mayhem that ensues. There's lots of urgency as the killer leaves clues and plays a deadly game with changing targets. Plenty of suspicious activity, witnesses who hold back information and, in the center of it all, a handsome relationship guru who is inextricably linked.

I first zoned into this series due to its Pennsylvania setting and quickly found myself drawn into the varied cases. I like the author's writing style and the balance of professional versus private lives of the main characters. Although Josie's past is alluded to, especially when it comes to her childhood and fear of dark, enclosed spaces, this adventure is largely focused on the here and now until late in the story when past deeds come back to haunt a major character.

Good entertainment value.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Good read with solid characters, but a little overlong so drags a bit in places. Nicely complex plot with plenty of surprises.

Detective Josie Quinn is my favourite series to step into when I go outside of my regular romance genre for a different kind of read. You have the romance aspect between Josie and Noah (thank you Lisa!), and you have so much suspense as they (and their incredible team with Chief Chitwood, Gretchen and Mettner) race the clock to find the killer or other criminal in each book.

The Innocent Wife is a real head-scratcher, as the clues left behind are extremely different this time around. While not my top favourite of the whole series, it's definitely up near the top! There are a lot of twists and turns, and Lisa really, really buries the answers to the clues deep in this one. It kept me guessing and second guessing the entire way through. I thought I'd figured it out so many times, but then there was a new wrench thrown into the entire game - this killer and all of the suspects will keep you on your toes the whole time. The fact that additional bodies turn up without a lot of additional clues or reasoning makes it even harder to figure out. I must say that the visit by Luke and Blue was very nice!

Pay close attention - she will probably keep the most well-read crime and suspense reader guessing and unsure to the very end with this book. It's probably the most twisted I've come across. Such a great job, Lisa! I highly recommend it for thrill readers and procedural lovers! Anyone looking to step out of their regular genres should also pick up this whole series!

I give this a 4.5 to 4.75 out of 5, rounded up to 5-stars. So very close to full 5, but there are still 2 or 3 in this series that I enjoyed just that little bit more, which is why.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Bookouture, and this is my honest feedback.

A bizarre murder for Detective Josie Quinn and her partner and husband Lt. Noah Fraley. Couples’ counselor Claudia Collins is found sitting at the dining room table…dead. She was supposed to be celebrating her fifteenth wedding anniversary with her husband, Beau, for their television show. She is holding a wooden puzzle box in her hand; a message from the killer? They soon realize that someone is out to destroy Beau’s life, but who and why? Beau doesn’t seem able to tell the truth; were they really a loving couple or had their marriage begun to unravel? When another associate meets a deadly end, will Josie and Noah, along with their team, find the killer before more lives are lost? One of my favorite series with strong, continuing characters and a complicated and intriguing mystery. Just when I think I have things figured out, another surprise twist at the end! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

4.5⭐

Josie Quinn is back and it's almost Christmas. When out shopping with her nephew Harris, Josie bumps into a woman who introduces herself as Claudia White.

A month later Josie is called to a murder scene at the house of celebrity couple Beau and Claudia Collins. Only Josie recognises the murder victim as Claudia White.

But why the different names? And who would want the lovely and kind Claudia dead?

That is what Josie and her team, including husband Noah have to find out and fast, especially when within hours of Claudias death, her assistant Eve is found murdered in lovers cove.

And as Josie and the team search for evidence. They uncover a couple whose life seems to be built on lies. And a killer who is determined to expose them.

But who is the liar Beau or Claudia?

And with time running out to find an answer and a killer who will stop at nothing. This was a cracking read. That was full of twists and a killer I did not expect.

Which is why I would happily recommend it to crime fiction fans everywhere.

A clever mystery that kept me guessing and turning the pages. A good addition to the series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

The Innocent Wife
Lisa Regan
December 12, 2022

Detective Josie Quinn returns in this 16th novel of Regan’s series. In Denton, Pennsylvania the local favorite reality TV is a counseling couples show to help them through the rough times in marriage. Aside from the duo leading the program, Beau and Claudia Collins always offer tools and games in order to help solve marital problems. Claudia has a private service for appointments for local couples to retain private counseling. Beau runs the business part of the program and promotes their latest books. On occasion he does counseling. His biggest problem is that he tends to find the women alluring, while the men become increasingly angry with Mr. Collins.
The Innocent Wife will be published on December 12, 2022 by Bookouture. I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read and review Lisa Regan’s latest Josie Quinn novel via NetGalley. Her suspense has become more intense and difficult to discover the solution to the case. As an avid mystery buff, this makes for an excellent read. Whether a fan of the series or a newbie to Regan’s novels, don’t miss this one. Extremely well written and keeps the reader on the edge through the entire journey. Do enjoy!

Another great installment in the Detective Josie Quinn series!
The Innocent Wife was certainly a tangled web of secrets and lies! There is so much going on…..one thing after another. Definitely kept me reading late into the night trying to figure out what was going on.
Detective Josie Quinn and her team have their hands full trying to figure out who would want to murder a well known and well liked TV personality. As more bodies start piling up, Josie wonders if she will be able to figure out what is going on. Who is telling the truth? Everyone seems to holding important information back.
Author Lisa Regan always comes up with such interesting and intriguing twisty plots.
Fast paced police procedural series I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Innocent Wife, the sixteenth novel to feature Detective Josie Quinn of the Denton, Pennsylvania Police Department.

TV presenter, Beau Collins, is heartbroken to find his wife, fellow presenter Claudia, dead at the dining room table, a wooden puzzle box in her hand. The next day Claudia’s assistant is found murdered with another puzzle box at her side. Beau is keeping secrets and Josie is determined to uncover them before someone else dies.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Innocent Wife, which is a whirlwind of a read that never lets up. The author has outdone herself in twists, action scenes and secrets, there are so many that every chapter brings a new surprise.

The novel is told mostly from Josie’s point of view interspersed with some diary entries that don’t make much sense initially, but serve as a guidepost to the solution if the reader reads them correctly. Personally I didn’t have a clue about any of it before the reveal, but I was too caught up in the excitement of the narrative to actually think things through, because I felt as if I was still digesting one reveal when the next one came.

The motive and the murders are quite complex, in that they took a lot of planning and twisted thinking, not in the sense that they are hard to understand or follow. There probably isn’t a lot of realism in it, but who cares when it’s so entertaining? I was glued to the pages, wondering what would come next and I couldn’t have imagined half of it. I was impressed by the author’s ingenuity with the twists and secrets that came tumbling out and loved the final twist that came after I thought it was all over.

The Innocent Wife is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I dont even know where to start, just read it. Its amazing and if you like thrillers and police procedural then you won't regret it. I'm off to download the series!!

The Innocent Wife is Lisa Regan’s 16th book in The Detective Josie Quinn series. This is another incredible addition to one very awesome series. Lisa Regan has a well written, fast paced book that will keep you glued to your chair and unable to put down. Highly addicting and extremely engaging, Ms. Regan takes you on the ride of your life. There are so many twist and turns you won’t know which way to turn. The characters continue to develop with each book. Her writing skills are outstanding and captivating. I highly recommend you come aboard and head on up to Denton, you will not be disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lisa Regan for allowing me the honor to read and review an advanced copy of this thrilling book! My opinions are my own.
#netgalley #bookouture #theinnocentwife #lisaregan #arc #detectivejosiequinnseries

The book has a solid plot while the narrative didn’t do enough justice to it. The police were running around in circles and Josie was not in her best. Noah comes out better. The investigation also has some glaring flaws. No background check on anyone is done. I don’t know if it’s an error by the author or something avoided deliberately to prolong the book. 3.5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Detective Josie Quinn and her husband Noah find themselves with a series of escalating murders, each one to punish someone. Josie finds herself drawn to figure out the first victim as she had saved Harris from an accident the month before. At that time the victim used a different name. Local celebrity marriage counselors with nothing or everything to hide while those around them are picked off one by one.

The team rallies together to solve this case, bringing in a new addition by way of ex fiancé,now Consultant, Luke and his dog Blue. The spend their time chasing dead ends, shady characters and a whole lot of drama. A wonderful addition to the Josie Quinn series, a must read thriller! I love Noah Fraley more and more as he shows his love unconditionally for Josie.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for honest review.

"A Riddle wrapped inside a mystery inside an enigma"

You would not believe just how obsessed I am with this series!.. the notification lands in my inbox.. you have received a new ARC by Lisa Regan..
'Goodbye family, mumma is gonna be MIA for a while'... opens kindle.. 'well hello my old friend Josie Quinn'
I literally stop everything until I have turned the last page, the world is paused and peaceful for just a while.. just me and Denton PD.

The book starts off with Josie being called out to investigate the death of a local TV personality, marriage guidance counsellor Claudia Collins. Found murdered in her home with a wooden puzzle 'gift' box in her hand. Her husband Beau appears devastated by what's happened but as the case unfolds more and more secrets are unearthed, secrets he's been hiding from everyone (he's one sly guy!)

Within 24 hours another victim is found, this time Claudia's assistant Eve. This gets the ball rolling for Josie's team to start digging deeper into who is killing and why.

It soon becomes evident that whoever is killing these people is intent on ruining Beau's life as he knows it, making him face up to the untold lies he spouted for years.. and still doing so.

As always I love the team dynamics in the Detective Josie Quinn series and LOVED the reappearance of Luke and Blue, it really brought another complexity into the story (please have him stick around 🙏)

Like Book #15, this installment focused more on the actual plot and storyline than on the characters which is obviously the direction Lisa Regan is now taking this series and whilst it doesn't take anything at all away from the brilliance of this series I do strangely miss the character development from the earlier books.

If you are after unlimited intrigue, suspense and want to be guessing every step of the way then this is the book you need to be holding in your hands, actually scrap that... this is the SERIES you need to be holding in your hands. If you haven't read the whole series WHY THE HELL NOT???

The hugest thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

The Innocent Wife by Lisa Regan  is the 16th in the Detective Josie Quinn series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Detective Josie Quinn has had a rough life,  and she still grieves the loss of her beloved grandmother, who was the only one she could rely on. As a baby, Josie had been kidnapped, and passed off as another woman's child.  Recently she has found her real parents, as well as her twin sister - news reporter Trinity Payne,  and her brother Patrick.   She works with the Denton Police Department, and her team consists of Detective Noah Fraley (her husband), Detective Gretchen Palmer, and Detective Finn Mettner (who is dating Press Secretary Amber Watts).  Their boss is Chief Bob Chitwood.  




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It's the 15th Wedding Anniversary for Claudia and Beau Collins.  They are relationship guru's with their own television show, podcast, and book.  Apparently the perfect couple.

But on this day, Claudia ends up alone at the romantically set table, dead.  Her husband was late, as were both of their personal assistants and the crew that was to film their anniversary dinner.  Her wedding rings are missing, and a puzzle box is in her hand.

The next day, Claudia's assistant, Eve, is found dead, another puzzle box left with her.

Josie and the team are perplexed, trying to figure out the clues that the killer is leaving behind.  They are also confused as to why Beau seems to be lying to them every time they turn around.  Yes, he seems grief-stricken,  but is there more to his story that he lets on?

The killer seems to be playing with them, and in particular, with Beau.  They are going to have to figure things out fast, because the killer is promising more deaths if Beau doesn't play his game.



My Opinions:
First, just a reminder that you really need to read these in order, and although this could be read as a stand-alone, the characters deserve to have their back-stories read.

Book 16....and still fresh!

Some of the twists in this one I had anticipated, but definitely not all of them.  There seemed to be a lot going on, and you had to pay attention to the characters, but the overall plot was good.

I'm not sure why, but this book seemed a little long....although I can't see anywhere that could be cut.  There was a lot of action, and it moved fast, but....I'm just not sure why it was dragging.

Still looking forward to the next in the series!