The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon is a tense psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The protagonist, a woman who has spent years trying to live a quiet, ordinary life, is suddenly thrust back into the horrors of her past when she learns that a man from her youth, Craig Lane, has been released from prison. Twenty years ago, Craig’s obsessive behavior scarred her in unimaginable ways, and now, with his release, she fears the worst.

Saxon expertly weaves a story of anxiety and suspense as the protagonist's past starts to resurface. The subtle but chilling events—flowers on the doorstep, a missing cat, and the feeling of being watched—build a sense of paranoia that intensifies with every page. The protagonist’s fear is palpable, and the reader is left questioning whether Craig’s obsession truly ended when he was imprisoned or if it has followed her into her present life.

What makes The Quiet Wife stand out is the emotional depth Saxon gives to the protagonist’s internal struggle. The tension between wanting to live an ordinary life and the terror of her past catching up with her is gripping. With unexpected twists and a dark, haunting atmosphere, this is a story about secrets, fear, and the lengths one will go to protect the life they've built.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with deep emotional stakes, The Quiet Wife will keep you hooked from beginning to end, making it a must-read for fans of suspenseful, character-driven mysteries.

Definitely a 5 star must read. Lots of suspense. Lots of twists and turns. This book was hard to put down once I started it. Great storyline, amazing characters.

Some thrillers pull you in with shocking twists, while others keep you hooked with relentless suspense. The Quiet Wife falls somewhere in between. It’s fast-paced, engaging, and filled with tension, but it never quite delivers that jaw-dropping moment I was hoping for.

This was my first book by Diane Saxon, and while it didn’t completely blow me away, I sort of enjoyed it. The writing is smooth, the tension is steady, and the quick pacing makes it easy to devour in a single sitting.

The story follows Soriah, a woman whose past trauma resurfaces when the man (Craig) who sexually abused her in college is released from prison. But the worst part? She was never just a victim of one person. She was betrayed by the people closest to her. Ginny, her so-called best friend, manipulated the entire situation and enabled Craig. Nola, another “friend,” later had an affair with her husband. And her husband himself never truly cared about her. The book moves between past and present, gradually revealing how deep the betrayals ran and how Soriah’s pain has shaped her life.

While the pacing keeps things moving, the plot is very predictable. I guessed most of the twists early on, which took away some of the suspense. Some scenes felt unnecessarily drawn out with too much focus on everyday details, while others that needed more weight were skimmed over. And given the heavy subject matter, I wish there had been more emotional depth in certain moments.

One thing to note, this book comes with some intense triggers, so it’s definitely not a light read.

Overall, The Quiet Wife is a solid, fast-paced thriller. It may not be groundbreaking, but if you’re in the mood for an engaging read that keeps you hooked, it’s worth picking up. Just don’t expect too many surprises along the way.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Diane Saxon for the ARC! Definitely an engaging read, even if I saw most of the twists coming.

Soriah has secrets from her past, she has not told her friends or her husband. When she was at college she had something awful happen to her, which resulted in people going to prison for their part in it. Craig the main perpetrator has just been released from prison and Soriah feels he is coming for her as strange things are happening to her she can’t explain. Will her secrets from the past catch up with her or are secrets from the present be much worse?

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know how it all came together and how it would all end.

Hold on tight, thriller junkies, because Diane Saxon is about to drop a bomb on the domestic suspense scene in 2025 with "The Quiet Wife"! Just the title alone sends shivers down my spine, doesn't it? It's like a whispered secret, promising a dive into the dark, twisted underbelly of a seemingly perfect marriage. We all know the "quiet wife" trope, the one who observes, who absorbs, who potentially harbors secrets darker than midnight. But I have a feeling Saxon is going to tear that trope apart, piece by piece, and reconstruct it into something utterly terrifying and compelling. Get ready to question everything you think you know about the woman next door, the partner you trust, the life you believe is stable. This isn't your grandma's cozy mystery. This is a psychological thrill ride poised to leave you breathless, second-guessing every character, and frantically turning pages until the shocking truth is finally revealed. Mark your calendars, set your reminders, and prepare yourselves. In 2025, "The Quiet Wife" will be whispering its secrets... if you dare to listen.

This book started off a little slow, but by the 15% mark, I was completely hooked.

The dual timelines were executed really well, providing a clear and compelling look at the past as the present-day story unfolded. I also really appreciated how the book portrayed the harsh reality of how poorly women can be treated when they report abuse—it added a layer of realism that made the story feel even more impactful.

I did guess one of the twists, but it played out so differently from what I expected that it still kept me on edge. And one twist actually made me audibly gasp—which almost never happens since I’m rarely that caught off guard. For most of the book, I felt like I had a pretty good grasp on what was happening, but the ending completely threw me. I even went back to reread a few parts just to figure out how I missed that twist.

I also really enjoyed the contrast between the different relationships in the book and how they shaped the story. Soriah’s backstory was so well-developed, and her relationship with her family was beautifully done—it was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone in the mood for a thriller!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!

The Quiet Wife was an interesting read. Soriah had a horrific experience due to a boy becoming obsessed with her. There was such an accurate portrayal of how women are blamed for what they wear and how they look instead of blaming the person who initiates unwanted attention and/or physical contact. Soriah’s so called friends were gross and I felt for her.

I liked how the story was told with flashbacks to the time when everything occurred mixed in with the current time. I felt that gave a better understanding of what Soriah went through and how she became who she was. I was invested in the story and was really impressed with how the author handled the heavy themes and topics woven into the story.

This is a very tense story that draws you in from the beginning. It's very fast paced and I was invested in the characters. The ending was unexpected. If you enjoy thrillers, I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Diane Saxon, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This psychological thriller is fast paced, emotional and gripping. Soriah has been through so much in her life it was great to see her find her strength in the end. As Soriah tragic past comes back to haunt her we get flashbacks of what happened to her 2o years ago as it pertains to what is happening to her in the present. There are some darker themes with plenty of mystery and suspense. This is my first read by Diane Saxon but it definitely won't be my last.

The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon is a twisty, tension filled domestic suspense story full of drama and intrigue.

Soriah and Gilly are college friends doing the college thing, until Gilly betrays Soriah and Soriah suffers from a traumatic event. Two decades later Soriah is living a quiet, contented life with her husband. Suddenly her past collides with her present sending her quiet life into a tailspin. As she is left reeling from the deception of those she thought closest to her, her family bands together and rallies behind her and propels her forward.

The story moves quickly and is told in past and present. The story had me hooked from the beginning and kept me quickly turning the pages. The pacing was perfect with twists thrown in at the right pace. Some of the characters were likeable and some were downright evil. It was a good mix of the two. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy

The cover and title are instant grabs for me. I’m a very avid psychological thriller reader, have read dozens. I had high hopes for being invested in this but it just didn’t happen. I gave it about 20% into the novel before I gave up. The plot twist is obvious, and I didn’t need to continue to figure it out. I found the writing to be rather simplistic. Perhaps others will find it more enjoyable than I did.

The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon was another excellent psychological thriller from start to finish with great twists and turns throughout that will have you gripped from the beginning till the very end. I love the way Diane writes all her books, she has away of bringing you into the story and you always end up wanting more, this book was no different - it was excellent!

I highly recommend this book, a great holiday read.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the digital ARC copy.

A very interesting book indeed.Lotsof twists and turns, if you love psychological thrillers you will enjoy this

thanks boldwood and netgalley. All thoughts are my own

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from Boldwood Books.

This is a very cleverly plotted book, told in easy to follow flashbacks between present day and 20 years ago, we follow Soriah in her life now and flashbacks to her teenage years. In the present day she is in a fairly unhappy marriage, her stalker is being released from prison and she thinks she is already being followed. And throw a pregnancy into the mix. So she has a lot going on! However as the story unravels with great tension, we find that Soriah is not as innocent as she projects.

A real page turner! I also loved how Luna the cat saves the day at one point😻

My favourite quote:
"......In the hope that we drift rather than tear apart."

I typically often read books based on the cover before knowing what the description is, and this one did not disappoint. I love the fact that the main storyline was relatable as this is something that many women have dealt with. He had an obsession with her, but she wasn’t interested. Her best friend convinced him that she was playing hard to get and that she secretly wanted him, too. After he kidnapped her with the help of her best friend, he beat and raped her trying to convince her that things would be different if she let him love her. Fast forward 20 years, and she never divulged her secret to her now husband. In fact, she often keeps things bottled up, and this has proven to be her biggest issue. It comes back to bite her when she starts receiving letters and flowers from an unnamed person that seem to be as threatening as they look. What noone knows is that the rape she endured resulted in a child that she gave up for adoption. With her rapist beling released after serving his time for his crime against her she is convinced he is back to finish the job only she is met with skepticism when she realizes that it could be the long lost baby she gave up.

Found this book very hard going, very slow and really not to my taste. Characters were not believable and found it hard to understand the situations the author talked about.....at great length. Not a book I enjoyed at all
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

It was obsession twenty years ago. More than that actually. Much more. Today, it is stalking. Soriah has overcome unspeakable trauma and is now living a carefully ordered life. Happily married to Marcus, although perhaps wanting more, events of her past will soon come crashing back into her life in the present.

At just seventeen years of age, Craig’s obsession with Soriah led him to unforgivable as well as unforgettable behavior. Why couldn’t she love him back? Fast forward a couple of decades, and Craig, still fixated on Soriah, has been released from prison. As Victim Support Services informs Soriah of Craig’s release, her fragile peace and comfort are shattered.

The evidence of Craig’s stalking is undeniable. Meanwhile, Marcus is away on business, leaving Soriah to deal with challenging circumstances. Factor in a secret from her past, Soriah must find a way to navigate her present, especially as her life takes even another turn.

This captivating read was thrilling from start to finish, especially with the surprising twists along the way.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Didn’t enjoy this at all. The story dragged, the characters felt lifeless, and I kept checking how much I had left. Definitely not for me.

Woe, just wow! Every time I thought there could be no more surprises or betrayals POW, I got hit by another one. I felt like I was back in grade school in a dodge ball tournament, being bombarded from every direction by whammos.
Soriah was a very strong character for all that she was forced to endure in this book!!
Betrayed by most everyone she comes out the other side,
With “friends” like hers one doesn’t need enemies.
This book put me through the wringer!

Plenty of twist and turns in this psychological thriller told through various timelines fast paced and has a good conclusion would recommend