Rating: 4.5 Stars

Million-copy best-selling author Sue Watson knocks it out of the park with her latest chiller, Wife, Mother, Liar.

Jill is a woman who seems to have a charmed life. Family is everything to her and she adores her husband Tim and worships the ground her son walks on. Married for twenty-five years, Jill is more in love than ever with her confident, charming and ebullient husband. When Jill sees him getting a little bit too close for comfort with her best friend Wendy at a party, she doesn’t think anything of it. She trusts her husband and he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her and she loves Wendy like a sister. However, Jill quickly begins to wonder if the two people she trusts most in the world really do have her best interest at heart after all…

When Jill’s son takes Wendy’s daughter to the prom, she is far from thrilled. There is something about Olivia that makes Jill uneasy and although she tries her hardest not to show the fact that she doesn’t like her best friend’s daughter, Jill’s apprehension goes up several notches as she snaps photos of the kids before they head off to prom. However, when Jill’s worst nightmare comes true and she finds herself desperate for the truth, she realises that her husband and Wendy are not being honest with her and she must dig deep and discover just what the two of them are hiding from her – because they are not the only ones with a deadly secret…

Superbly crafted and deliciously creepy, Wife, Mother, Liar will leave you with your jaw on the floor as Sue Watson expertly pulls the rug out from under your feet on multiple occasions and will leave you breathless as she layers menace, tension and suspense in an irresistible chiller that is absolutely impossible to put down.

Sue Watson is the queen of twisted thrillers and she has outdone herself with her latest novel, Wife, Mother, Liar.

This book was good, filled with a lot of twists. There was a lot going on and it really made you think of what happened and what was going to happen

What a great book! I absolutely loved how twisty and clever this one was! I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and would definitely read from this author again,

Someone is lying. Someone knows the truth. Someone is going to pay...

This latest thriller by Sue Watson reads almost like a slightly longer Daniel Hurst thriller. Very few characters who are equally unreliable, the entire tale rehashing old ground in the space of a few days, keeps the reader guessing and even that final twist at the very end that most probably never saw coming. I admit to suspecting it but then I forgot about it with everything else going on. And what a tangled web it was!

Jill and Wendy have been neighbours and best friends for two decades. They were new wives together, new mums together and were even pregnant together! Their respective son and daughter - Leo and Olivia - were born just two weeks apart and grew up together, best friends like their mothers were. But then they hit their teens and suddenly Leo was seeing Olivia in a new light and the pair began dating. Jill was far from thrilled and did her best to dissuade the romance while Wendy thought Leo was a far better catch than bad boy Rory whom Olivia had been seeing beforehand.

Everything was going well until prom night. Leo and Olivia dressed in their finery, Wendy even hiring a photographer to capture the moment in time, and the hired limo taking them to the school. Jill had asked her husband Tim to collect the pair at the end of the night but he texted to say he was detained and wouldn't be able to. Little did Jill know that what started out as a perfect night would end in tragedy. Jill and Wendy's two children would go off to the prom but only one would return.

Almost two years later, Jill and Wendy are catching up for girls weekend away in Wales. Leo had told his mum of this beautiful place that was so completely dark that you could truly see the stars in all their brilliance. Jill wanted to share this with her friend, hoping to rekindle something of their friendship after the tragedy that had ripped them apart two years before. What ensues is a tennis match of "she said/she said" and mud-slinging on both parts. But will the truth about prom night ever come to light?

And just when you thought you'd heard it all, along comes the coup de grace which brings the entire tale full circle and saves what essentially was a story that seemed to drag on just a little too long. The one-way conversations were enlightening to say the least and the saving grace of this tale, with the final reveal coming not a minute too soon in Daniel-Hurst-like fashion...enough to give you whiplash and leave you thinking how very clever.

The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Jill and Wendy, best friends for over two decades, as we witness their mud-slinging tennis match of she said/she said and getting precisely nowhere. The reader even grows tired of their animosity; Wendy's constant denials (me thinketh she protest too much, maybe?) and Jill's manic behaviour. Wendy an incorrigable flirt and Jill who took helicopter parenting to a whole new level. These two were complete maniacs, they were insane! And then there were their husbands. Wendy's Robert was blase about just about everything while Tim would get his leg over anything with a pulse. Nobody was in the least bit likeable and this wasn't Watson's best thriller but that final twist just made it all the more sweeter. Well done!

I would like to thank #SueWatson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WifeMotherLiar in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This book took me some time to get into, but once it gets going, it doesn't stop. I didn't find the twists all that jaw-dropping, but they made sense for the story and kept the tension high. I also really enjoyed reading from both POVs, especially getting into the characters' internal thoughts. While none of the characters were particularly likable (sometimes very annoying), their flaws made them feel realistic.

Overall, I thought the writing was strong, and the story kept me engaged. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author!

It's only recently that I've been willing to take a chance on thrillers again, especially this domestic thriller subgenre. And I'll be the first to admit it, I fell for the marketing copy. However, this was... fine.

What worked: it was well-paced and a quick read. The alternating perspectives were successful and the initial hook - two kids went to prom but only one came home - kept me sufficiently interested,

What didn't work: The 'breathtaking twist' I was promised was nowhere to be found, only the conclusion I had been expecting for most of the book, one that has been recycled in enough soap operas to be the only obvious answer.

This book has plenty of glowing reviews from others, so no need to listen to this jaded reader who has lost the ability to be surprised.

Thanks, NetGalley!

Gripping psychological thriller with some good twists
Fast paced throughout
Enjoyed the plot
Thought the characters were fascinating

Good book, though we spend a bit too much time asking ourselves what really happened in the past. The ending surprised me in a good way.

I love this authors work. I think she writes such great thrillers. I enjoyed this one and it kept me entertained for most of it.

Sue Watson’s Wife, Mother, Liar is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end. With a masterful blend of suspense, family drama, and shocking twists, Watson explores the dark secrets lurking behind the facade of an ordinary life.

The story revolves around [protagonist’s name], a seemingly perfect wife and mother whose life begins to unravel when [key inciting incident]. As the layers of her carefully curated world are peeled back, long-buried secrets come to light, revealing a web of deceit, betrayal, and unexpected connections. Watson’s ability to draw readers into the protagonist’s increasingly chaotic mind makes the journey both thrilling and unsettling.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its characterization. The protagonist is complex and deeply flawed, yet undeniably compelling. The supporting cast, from family members to those circling her life, are equally well-crafted, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. Readers will find themselves questioning who can be trusted—and whether the protagonist is as reliable as she seems.

Watson’s writing is sharp and evocative, with just the right balance of tension and pacing. Every chapter leaves the reader eager to uncover the next layer of the mystery. Themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths one will go to protect their family are explored with psychological depth, making the story not only a thriller but also a reflection on human relationships.

Fans of domestic thrillers like those by Shari Lapena or Lisa Jewell will find Wife, Mother, Liar to be an unputdownable read. With its intricate plotting and jaw-dropping twists, it’s a story that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final page.

Final Thoughts: Sue Watson’s Wife, Mother, Liar is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Packed with twists, emotional depth, and an unforgettable protagonist, it’s a must-read for fans of the genre. Watson once again proves her prowess in crafting stories that captivate and surprise.

Love Sue Watsons books and was looking forward to this one.

a psychologival thriller with great charaters and lots of twists and turns.

Kept me gripped from the beginning

Another great read

This is my second book by the author Sue Watson and it was much better than the first although I liked first too. I understand the themes of her books now and if I somehow had understood it before I might not have picked this up but I'm glad I didn't.

Infidelity & extra marital affairs irks me and somehow these characters do not have an ounce of integrity which makes me hate them. Tim was the first person I hated but later I realised that other characters were even worse than him.

First part of the book was getting quite repetitive and dull. I really wasn't interested in knowing what happened as I felt both Wendy and Jill are hateful and resentful. From the first page, it was clear that the friendship was just a show. They really didn't care for each other. And as story moved ahead, I hated them both so much. Actually every character I hated. I didn't feel anything for anyone of them but I think that's the point.

Even when you don't care, you want to know what happened to every one of them. Towards the end I was blown. I was thinking I had figured it out but boy, was I wrong. The twists and turns were totally unexpected. This twisted and dark tale was full of mystery and was able to keep me in dark for a very long time.

It was fun reading this book.

Thank you Netgalley and bookouture for the amazing ARC in exchange of an honest review and.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Sue Watson's "Wife, Mother, Liar" is a psychological thriller that will leave you breathless. It's a chilling exploration of the corrosive power of guilt and the lengths we'll go to protect our fragile identities.

Watson masterfully crafts a sense of unease from the very first page. The protagonist, a seemingly perfect wife and mother, harbors a dark secret that threatens to unravel her carefully constructed life. As the narrative unfolds, the reader is drawn into a web of deceit, where every seemingly innocuous detail takes on a sinister undertone.

"Wife, Mother, Liar" apart is full of unexpected twists. Watson expertly subverts expectations, keeping the reader constantly guessing.

The ending is particularly masterful, leaving a lasting impact long after the final page is turned.

"Wife, Mother, Liar" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of suppressing the truth.

Fast paced triller with twists and turned that kept me guessing to the end, Every chapter I had no idea what was going to happen next, brilliant

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for this ARC. This is the first book that I read from this author, but it definitely will not be the last! This was a fantastic, psychological thriller that had me right from the first page!! The characters were well-developed and relatable, and I absolutely love the plot and all the twists that came about! I would highly recommend this book to people that enjoy psychological, thrillers and books with a lot of action and heart pounding suspense!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This book was a little lackluster for me. It just needed a little more ..anything. More plot, more intrigue, more excitement. It just didn’t grip me.

I absolutely loved this one. It's probably one of my favorite books by her. I loved the storyline and the character deployment. I would give this book 5 our of 5 stars.

Thank you Bookoutre and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This book was like a rollercoaster for me, one that starts slowly and seems safe enough, not too crazy, coasting along in an enjoyable way and then bam, it’s off. Hold one tight there are lots of turns and not necessarily when you expect them.

A great book which I enjoyed and couldn’t get back to, which is always the teller this is a potential five star read for me. Two things prevented it making that, the speech / thoughts between Jill and Wendy and the ending.

I enjoy books that switch between different characters each chapter however with this one I often didn’t know, within each chapter and often each page, who was “talking” . I found this distracting and annoying especially I’d I could only read a page here and there at school pick up etc. I found I was often having to go back and retrace until I know who the narrator was where I left off the last time.

The ending seemed very far-fetched to me. I know, it’s a thriller, it’s fiction, however I feel it would have had more punch for me if the extra “fluff” / drama was left out and just the main punch was the king hit.

These two points aside, I really enjoyed this book, and I give it 4.5 stars. I’ll definitely be reading more from Sue Watson.

Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for an ARC of Wife, Mother, Liar.

I've read a few Sue Watson books, and I've yet to come across a bad story written by her. This is a tense story, with little nuggets of information dropping every chapter send the reader down one path or another regarding whodunit.
I did have to concentrate, as the book flips between two women's viewpoints and I managed to confuse myself more than once.
However I still think this is a great book, recommend

A mother suffers the loss of her teenage son on prom night. In the pursuit of finding out the truth behind his death, she corners her best friend, who she is adamant knows more than she is letting on. If you enjoy a fast-paced book with twists and turns throughout. You would enjoy this read! I didn't want to put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting! I really felt connected to the mother who was on a downward spiral while searching for the truth and not getting the answers she wanted. I look forward to reading more by this author!