Martha has escaped a horrific childhood of abuse and settled in small town Whitney Falls, where all activity revolves around First Baptist Church. She is befriended by Mary McClatchy, the wife of charismatic Pastor Tim McClatchy. Soon Martha moves out of her rented room in a seedy motel to the McClatchy’s garage apartment. She leaves her dead end job at the grocery store to be Pastor Tim’s church secretary. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? It is. Martha slowly realizes that there is a dark side to Tim and Mary’s ministry. As Martha confronts the evil underbelly of small town life, she also worries that the what she left behind might have followed her to Whitney Falls.

Told in alternating chapters by Martha and Mary, The Pastor’s Wife unfolds slowly and suspenseful. Chapter by chapter, the women’s true characters are revealed. Without spoilers, Pastor Tim and Mary’s actions are not only criminal but repulsive. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and LynDee Walker for this ARC.

The review below is already posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon on June 16th when it becomes available.

The Pastor's Wife was a very unique thriller. It was one that I did not expect anything that happened in the book to happen but the ending twists were a very nice change. While I struggled with this book personally because of the religious aspect, it was funny, different, and even hopeful at times. Even though it was not one of my favorites and I had a hard time with the changing points of view and the time lapses, it worked well together and the author did a great job of making sure the ending was unexpected.

HONEST OPINION: The Pastor’s Wife captures the quiet unease of Whitney Falls—a small town where everyone appears to know one another, but secrets are always bubbling beneath the surface. The story unfolds across multiple timelines, which creates a slow, deliberate unraveling of the truth.

The friendship between Mary and Martha initially feels warm and sincere, but there’s a growing sense that not everything is as it seems. That quiet tension made their dynamic one of the more compelling aspects of the story.

The pacing was slower than I typically enjoy, and that did affect my engagement at times. I often found myself wishing the story would move with more momentum, it occasionally made it harder to fully connect.
The ending, was deeply unsettling for me — not just in tone but in what it chose to reveal.
I appreciate the emotional weight and the quiet, creeping suspense it created. It’s a heavy-story that leans into discomfort, and it will resonate most with readers who are drawn to slow-burning, psychologically layered narratives.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

The Pastor’s Wife pulled me in right away with its strong premise and eerie atmosphere. The first half had great pacing and set the stage for some big twists. I found the characters compelling and was genuinely curious to see how it would all play out.

While the ending felt a bit rushed and some reveals were predictable, it was still an engaging and quick read overall. I’d be interested in reading more from this author.

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

This book is such a ride. I picked it up thinking it would be a slow-burn small-town drama, but it turned into something way twistier than I expected.

Martha is just trying to lay low and blend in, but when the local pastor’s wife, Mary, extends a hand of kindness, things start to spiral. At first, she is touched. Someone finally sees her. As Martha gets pulled deeper into their world, she realizes something’s definitely off. From there, it just gets wilder.

The story jumps between different points of view, and it feels like everyone is hiding something. I could barely keep up at times (in a good way). So many secrets, so many twists, and just when you think you’ve figured something out, nope.

That said, the ending left me a bit underwhelmed. It wasn’t bad. After all that buildup, I was hoping for a bit more punch and fewer loose ends. Still, the journey getting there was totally worth it.

The pastors wife was a joy to read!

Omg what a thrill of a read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Twisty and full of suspence. I was on the edge of my seat. Gripped from start to finish. Read in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. Definitely recommend. 5*

The Pastor's Wife is a gripping ride that blends suspense, small-town secrets, and raw human drama. Lyndee Walker crafts a tense and layered story with characters that feel real and flawed in all the right ways.
The mystery kept me turning pages, and I appreciated the deeper themes about faith, trust, and identity.
I knocked off one star only because a few plot points felt a little predictable, but overall, it was a strong, well-written thriller with heart. Definitely worth the read!

I meant to read a chapter or two before bed. Cut to: me, wide-eyed at 2am, muttering “just one more” and knowing damn well I was going to regret it in the morning. Totally worth it.

The Pastor’s Wife is a small-town psychological suspense with a slow, steady build and a dual POV structure that works really well. Martha’s chapters pulled me in right away—she’s uneasy for reasons we don’t fully understand, and the tension in her scenes builds fast. Mary’s perspective, though? That took me a little longer to get a read on. At first, she just seems... polished. Controlled. Maybe even admirable. But the more time we spend in her head, the more the edges start to fray—and that’s where things get interesting. The dual perspectives work beautifully. Martha’s POV is suspense‑soaked and curious; Mary’s is chillingly composed and wound tight. Their dynamic keeps you guessing: who’s the predator, who’s the prey... or are both wearing masks behind those Sunday best smiles ?

It’s not a twisty thriller full of gasp-worthy reveals, but it is quietly tense and layered. Some things I saw coming, others surprised me. And while I could’ve used just a little more depth in a few spots near the end, I was absolutely hooked the whole way through.

Would 100% pick up another book from LynDee Walker after this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. And also, apparently, in exchange for sleep. My bad.

The Pastor's Wife
by LynDee Walker
Pub Date: Jun 16 2025

The Pastor's Wife is set in the fictional town of Whitney Falls, a dark and twisted story told in two point of views by the main characters Martha and Mary. it's about what hides behind the facade of perfection, and the blurred boundaries between saint and sinner. Definitely a lot of suspense, twists and turns through out the book with an ending I was not expecting!

Synopsis: “Welcome to Church!” Pastor Tim flashes his brilliant white teeth around the congregation. He doesn’t notice me, but I can see that every woman is hypnotized. Except one. His wife. I watch as worry clouds her violet eyes. She’s hiding something. And I’m going to find out what…

Many thanks to #ThePastorsWife #NetGalley and #Bookouture for providing me an E-ARC of this exciting book!

🎧📱Audio & E-Book Review📱🎧

The Pastor's Wife
LynDee Walker

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is my first read by this author and I was instantly drawn in by the front cover, which promised secrets and suspense.

I mainly listened to the audio book, which was perfectly narrated by our two narrators who portrayed our main characters Mary and Martha.

I found it quite easy to follow the different pov's but there was a lot of swapping between timelines throughout, that I found a bit tricky to fully focus on at first.
I'm sure that this was purely because of the way that I "read" audio books though, as when I read through the ebook, it was all clearly shown at the start at each chapter which visually, made it so much easier to follow.

Once I got used to this format though, I quickly became immersed in the storyline which was intriguing from the start.

Mary and Pastor Tim seemed to have the perfect life, but there were some comments that made me really wonder about this and as the storyline progressed, we see more and more chinks that had me wondering about what was really going on here.

I was completely confused by Mary and Martha's relationship, which kept switching from true friends to maybe something a little more manipulated and it was clear that both of them had secrets of sorts - just how far these would run, we were yet to discover.

I loved how the different threads of the storyline revealed things bit by bit and each time I thought I'd worked out what was going on, things would shift in a new direction again.
This was packed with twists from start to finish and I was totally hooked.

The dramatic ending left things a bit open - I wonder whether we might see more from Mary in a future book?

My jaw is on the floor after finishing this one!! What did I just read???? Good gravy, this was a TRIP!

This was my first book to read by LynDee Walker. If my understanding of the author's note is correct, this is also her first psychological suspense story. This book was totally twisted and absolutely wild. It's somewhat sunshine and butterflies at first, even though there's a little bit of darkness in it, but man, somewhere in the middle to end the book just turns dark. I don't even know how to describe it without giving huge plot points away, but there are also major triggers I am happy to share if you want to message me. They WILL give away major plot points. I'm not one to be triggered, so I was not bothered, but I can see how some could be bothered.

Anyway, to the story! Whitney Falls is a very small town in Arkansas. So small there's only one church, one store, one gross motel, and not much internet access. Pastor Tim and his wife Mary move to Whitney Falls to start over (again) at the First Baptist. Martha also shows up in Whitney Falls, but for very different reasons. Martha and Mary's lives collide one evening, and a friendship blossoms between the two. Observant Martha sees that behind closed doors, things aren't always as they seem in public between Pastor Tim and Mary. And Mary has some of her own suspicions. . .

You won't want to sleep until the end, and then you won't want to sleep because you will be too busy thinking about what you just read.

Special thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book begins with a strong premise and well-developed characters, drawing readers in with intrigue and secrets waiting to unfold. However, the pacing falters in the second half, and the abrupt ending left me dissatisfied.

The shifting timelines and perspectives added to the confusion, with chapter transitions often making it hard to discern the sequence of events. The POVs lacked clear distinction, and I frequently found myself rewinding to piece it together.

While the slow build promised a compelling payoff, the final quarter felt rushed, cramming major developments into too few pages. The abrupt conclusion left lingering questions, making the journey feel incomplete.

Worth a read for the premise and character work, but prepare for some frustration with structure and pacing.


A. Twist and Suspense
⭐: Illogical or incoherent; the mystery is shallow or unresolved

B. Atmosphere and Writing
⭐⭐: Weak atmosphere, writing had some redeeming moments but wasn't engaging

C. Character Development
⭐⭐: Characters were underdeveloped, with unclear motivations.

D. Pacing and Engagement
⭐⭐⭐: Pacing was decent, with a few engaging moments.

E. Mystery Resolution
⭐⭐⭐: The resolution made sense but wasn’t particularly satisfying.

F. Emotional Impact
⭐⭐: Minimal emotional engagement; few memorable moments.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐ out of 5

I just finished “The Pastor’s Wife” by Lyndee Walker, and it is a very good thriller! The story is about a young, down on her luck woman named Martha who meets the local church pastor’s wife, Mary.

Mary and her husband Tim, the pastor, lead a seemingly perfect life and offer Martha an opportunity to change her fortune.

The story is told from Martha and Mary’s POV’s. It’s filled with twists and turns. The plot did seem to drag in the middle, but I did enjoy the writing, so a slower pace did not bother me.

This book will definitely keep you guessing! It earned a solid 4 stars from me! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book publishes on June 16th. Go read it!

#bookstagram
#NetGalley
#ThePastor’sWife

A dark, engrossing thriller that peels back church-life facades—though a few beats felt familiar.
The Pastor’s Wife is a gripping slow-burn thriller with a deceptively cozy setting and high emotional stakes. Walker’s strength is in her pacing and atmosphere—even if it leans on a few familiar tropes, the ride is intense. A solid 4 stars for fans of domestic suspense with secrets simmering just beneath the surface.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great pick if you like psychological thrillers set in seemingly idyllic communities—think In the Woods-style dread meets small-town intrigue.

Unfortunately this book was not it. I found my mind wandering more often then not when reading and I had to reread pages multiple times to get myself to understand - not a good sign

Martha is new to Whitney Falls. But so are the smooth and charming Pastor Tim and his wife Mary. Mary and Tim had moved from town to town, but had finally found a home in Whitney Falls. From the outside looking in Tim and Mary’s marriage seemed idyllic, but it wouldn’t take long for Martha to see the cracks in their marriage.

The rapid friendship that developed between Martha and Mary was about to face significant challenges. With each of them harboring pasts they’d rather keep hidden, the narrative takes on a sinister tone. This book might have been a tale of secrets and lies, but it turned out to be far more intricate, making it an enthralling read from beginning to end.

As an avid audiobook listener, Stephanie Cannon and Pat Rodriguez were unfamiliar to me as narrators. However, I believe they both delivered exceptional performances in capturing the captivating voices of Martha and Mary. This added an extra layer of intrigue to the unfolding narrative. LynDee Walker was also a new name to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first encounter with what I hope will be a series of captivating books in the future.

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

This one started out strong but then just dragged from about halfway. I found the majority of characters Mary and Tim especially irritating and dislikable. Martha for me was the only really likeable character. The small town theme and the dialogue was a little cringe. The twists and turns seemed a little forced and not overly engaging. The last 1/4 was engaging if a little drawn out and iseemed like it came out of nowhere. This one didn’t work for me at all.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review #ThePastorsWife

All I can say is WOW. This book had me hooked from the very first page and refused to let go. It’s an absolute page-turner—tense, addictive, and filled with twists that kept me second-guessing every character. I found myself devouring chapter after chapter late into the night, completely unable to stop.

Set against the eerie backdrop of a seemingly perfect church community, the story unravels with creeping dread. Pastor Tim exudes charm and control, but it’s his wife—haunted, silent, and clearly hiding something—that truly stole my attention. The suspense builds masterfully as secrets begin to surface and facades start to crack.

This is one of those thrillers where just when you think you’ve figured it out, the rug is pulled from beneath you. If you’re a fan of tightly wound psychological suspense that plays with perception and keeps you on edge, this is a must-read.

**3.5 Stars**

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Whitney Falls was supposed to be a quiet place for Martha to disappear. But when she’s saved from an accident by the pastor’s wife, Mary, she finds herself drawn into their seemingly perfect world Sunday services, warm dinners, and smiles that don’t quite reach the eyes.
Pastor Tim is charming and adored by all… except, it seems, by his own wife. Something’s off Mary flinches at his touch, follows his rules, and never talks about their past. Then there’s the black car that won’t stop watching Martha.
One night, curiosity drives Martha to search their home and what she finds changes everything. Everyone thinks the pastor and his wife are saints. Martha knows better now. And they have no idea who she really is… or what she’s capable of.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
A dark and twisted tale that explores hidden motives, the illusion of perfection, and the complex overlap between virtue and vice. Set in the fictional town of Whitney Falls and told through dual points of view, the story gradually unravels its secrets.
I found the beginning a bit slow and had some difficulty getting into the narrative, but the pace picked up toward the end, which made for a stronger finish. Despite the slow start, the themes and twists kept me intrigued, and overall, I would still recommend giving it a read.
Note: Be sure to check trigger warnings before reading, as the story delves into some heavy and potentially sensitive topics.
Thank You @Netgalley and @Bookouture for allowing me to review this book.

The Pastor’s Wife started out strong — easily a 4-star read in the first half. The premise was gripping, the writing was solid, and I was pulled in quickly by the characters and setting. I had high hopes for where the story was headed.

Unfortunately, the second half lost its way. The plot started to spiral, and by the time I reached the final chapters, it felt like a completely different book. Things got chaotic, unrealistic, and scattered — and I need my fiction to maintain at least a thread of believability. It was frustrating to see such a promising setup unravel into something that felt more like a soap opera than a cohesive story.

I really wanted to love this one all the way through, but in the end, it just didn’t hold up. A disappointing finish to an otherwise strong beginning.

#ARCReview #ThePastorsWife #BookReview #HonestReview #NetGalley