I’ve read and enjoyed a few of the author’s novels but feel that The Final Wife is her weakest yet. It started off well, as Anna confesses to the murder of her husband Luke. Her confession doesn’t ring true as she’s unable to provide any details and so the police begin to dig deeper into the life of her husband and his ex wife.
Luke is an abhorrent character and I also found it difficult to like either of his wives or maintain an interest in discovering the murderer, The pacing seemed to slow after the first few chapters and I felt that the plot became quite repetitive.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

The start and end are electric but it lost its way a little in the middle. Great premise but it fell a bit flat with often OTT plot and a feeling that while Luke was undoubtedly a shit, he didn't deserve to be killed, which made it harder to connect with the suspects.

Who wanted Luke dead? It seemed like almost everyone did. But did his wife kill him? When police find him stabbed to death and Anna by his side, it seems like a reasonable leap that Anna killed him. Unfortunately for the police, not everything is what it seems.

Good story that kept my attention. I liked the premise but I would have liked to believe that Luke really should have been killed. He was a jerk, yes, but leave him - don't kill him.

Look, I love a messy little domestic thriller. Give me a dead husband with too many secrets, an emotionally unstable wife confessing to a murder she’s not explaining, and a nosy detective with a tragic backstory, and I will gleefully dive in like it’s my emotional support popcorn.

The Final Wife kicks off strong. The setup? Delicious. Luke (the dead dude) was a charming narcissist with a history of screwing over women, so there’s no shortage of people with motive. Anna, the new wife, confesses to the murder but conveniently forgets the whole "details" part. Meanwhile, DS Rebecca Dance is trying to sort out the truth while wading through the emotional wreckage Luke left behind.

And yes, the twist at the end landed for me—it was satisfying, if a little soap-opera-adjacent.

But here’s the thing: the middle third dragged like my attention span on a Monday morning. The multiple POVs started to feel samey. Like, are you a haunted ex-wife or just another woman with coffee-colored curls and a vague sense of guilt? The voices bled together, and a few of the side plots (hi, Jimmy and Tom) felt like they were dropped halfway through.

I didn’t hate it. It was compulsively readable and had its moments. But it didn’t hit that emotional punch or originality I was hoping for. Solid? Yes. Memorable? Eh.

Am I in the minority when I say I don't think Luke deserved to die? Yes, he was a womaniser, a huge cheat, and a liar, but I don't think he needed to die. Because of this, I found the plot honestly just so over the top. He's cheating on you? Leave him. It's as simple as that.
This book kinda put me in a mood, but I couldn't stop reading. I found myself needing to know who did it and how it was done. Even if it was a little extreme.
I really enjoyed the chapters from the detective's pov, reading how they investigated, etc. I found that side of things absolutely fascinating.
Overall, it wasn't my favourite book from this author, but I was entertained for a few hours.

This was a quick and easy thriller read. I enjoyed it and was not expecting the ending. Can’t wait to read more by this author!

I was hoping for so much more with this book. Unfortunately I didnt like the ending. The book I found at times to be predictable and confusing. Make sure you keep your eye on the ball with this book.

This book was so good most definitely a page turner I didn’t want it to end but I had to know what was next so good

#TheFinalWife #NetGalley
Luke Whitney is stabbed to death. His wife Anna confesses after she is found next to his lifeless body. But if she did it, why can’t she confirm any of the details of the crime? As police dig into the circumstances, they learn that the victim was a liar, a cheat and a narcissist. More than one person had a reason to want him dead; his scorned ex, his neglected mistress and Anna – who knows what happens to Mrs Whitneys when Luke gets bored of them. Luke Whitney had it coming. But who made sure he got what he deserved?
The ending fell flat for me.
An ok read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for giving me an advance copy. advance copy.

Till death do us part...

I really liked the premise of this book and overall it was a really good thriller but there were parts of the book that I didn't like. Some of the characters made me want to scream and some of the plot was far-fetched. I did like the plot twist which I didn't see coming.

4.25 🌟

This book kept me hooked from basically the beginning. All the twists and turns were so unexpected, I never would have been able to guess the ended. And just when I though I had figured something out, another twist was thrown at me.

I would highly recommend if you are looking for a murder mystery!

I have whiplash! Wow what a crazy ride. A twist in almost every chapter as the ending got nearer. I loved it. I would love to see more from this author.

The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst is one of those rare thrillers that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go. From the start, I found myself completely hooked and eager to keep reading. The writing is accessible and fast-paced, making it a truly easy and enjoyable read.

At first, I thought the plot was heading down a predictable path—but I was wrong. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the twists at the end took me completely by surprise. Blackhurst weaves a clever narrative that plays with expectations and keeps readers on their toes until the very last chapter.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with unexpected turns and sharp writing, The Final Wife is definitely worth picking up. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping and cleverly crafted story.

The Final Wife is a twisty and propulsive psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page. The story follows Anna, who confesses to the murder of her husband, Luke Whitney, but her inability to recall key details of the crime raises suspicions. As Detective Rebecca Dance delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of lies, deceit, and hidden motives. Blackhurst masterfully weaves multiple perspectives and red herrings, keeping readers guessing until the final, jaw-dropping twist. If you're a fan of domestic thrillers with complex characters and unpredictable plots, this book is a must-read.

This twisty and fast paced thriller had me hooked. Nothing was as it seems and the twists kept coming. I couldn't trust anyone by the end. Highly recommend!

This was a good book. It kept my attention the whole time. I read it fast because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. I was shocked! Great read!

Omg I loved everything about this! I love domestic noirs and this gave me everything I could want. The characters were well written and realistic, nothing too far fetched happened to make it all seem "just for the plot", it's well paced and well plotted out. It also had me thinking and wasn't quite obvious as to how it would all play out. I really enjoyed it

Well wasn't Luke quite the charmer! Womaniser and serial chat Luke is found dead and his latest wife has confessed to his murder. This was a good domestic suspense thriller as there were quite a lot of twists and surprises. I liked the characters of Rebecca and KIm the police officers, they were very well written. However, the plot became a little convoluted in my opinion, by the end I was a bit unsure as to exactly what had happened although the final twist was an excellent one. I was puzzled as to why all these women fell for this horrible man and why they put up with his behaviour.

It looks like an open and shut case - Anna Whitney, second wife of plastic surgeon Luke, has confessed to stabbing him. No need to look further, surely. But DS Rebecca Dance is convinced it's not that simple, and indeed it isn't. After all, there's more than one person who might want Luke Whitney dead.

This was a tightly plotted story with, at its heart, the mystery of why Anna would confess to something which it seems she didn't do. And if she didn't kill Luke, then who did?

There's a slight subplot about Rebecca's relationship(s) which seemed incomplete and I'm not sure if she is or will be a recurring character.

The ultimate resolution was a bit complicated, and I'm still not sure I entirely understand it, although I'm sure it all makes sense.

Not a spoiler, since nothing relevant happened, but I was almost sure the casually mentioned Becky of Anna's childhood was going to turn out to be police officer Rebecca, especially when it was mentioned that they came from a similar background. (I thought I was so clever to spot that.) But nope.

An enjoyable and unpredictable read.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Terrific book which would keep you hooked and give you plenty sleepless nights;p