The Pastor's Wife is a psychological thriller that explores the dark side of a seemingly perfect marriage. The book's premise is immediately intriguing - two women who are outsiders, Mary, the pastor’s wife, and Martha, a struggling cashier, become friends. They soon discover that they each have secrets they are trying to keep hidden. Their dual POVs had me captivated as I was desperate to know what would unfold at the end. The story is packed with twists and turns, keeping you on your toes as the plot unfolds.

The tension in this book is palpable. The author does a fantastic job of building a sense of unease and suspense, making it hard to put the book down. The pacing is well-handled, and the narrative moves along at a good clip. Stephanie Cannon and Patricia Rodriguez narrated in a way that had me completely invested in the characters and the storyline.

This book is a strong and suspenseful read. I love when an author that is new to me delivers and exceeds the expectations I have. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found this book to be a good psychological thriller. It started a little slow and there was a lot of info that I don't think was really relevant or added to the story. It go better and became tense and I found myself, on several occasions, thinking I had solved it - which I love.

I did read it quite slowly and it didn't fully grip me, but it is a good book.

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Pastor’s Wife is my first book by this author.
Welcome to the town of Whitney Falls.
Meet Mary, the new pastor’s wife.
And Martha, a cash strapped supermarket worker.
When an unfortunate incident brings the two together, the secrets they have become harder to keep hidden.
I found this to be unnecessarily convoluted.
It started off strong but got a bit messy in the middle and the ending was so so.
A unique premise and a bunch of interesting characters couldn’t save it unfortunately.
Not bad but not good.

Author LynDee Walker delivers a tense psychological thriller full of twists in The Pastor’s Wife. Designed in alternating first-person perspectives, primarily focused on Mary and Martha, the story unfolds as the seemingly perfect McClatchys
Not too far in you see clues that indicate the couple is not who they are and then the question comes is anyone in this town who they say?

You will find yourself developing theories to how it could end. However you are in for a plot twist you didn’t see coming!

This mystery is centered around the characters, and I enjoyed how much I liked some people and disliked others. From the beginning, I was making judgments, and it was fun watching how the story played out. A satisfying story overall

Whitney Falls is the perfect quaint town to forget about your past and move forward. Getting in the good graces of Pastor Tim and wis wife, Mary, helps Martha feel that her life is turning around and for the better.

Is she really as secure as she thinks she is? Does someone know what she has done and is escaping from? Are Pastor Tim and Mary really the upstanding church family they portray themselves to be?

This story starts off a little slow, but it doesn't take long for it to speed up into a page turner. A psychological thriller that will give you bone-chilling feelings and suspense! The dual points of view help the reader gain clues to how each character is thinking and pieces the twisty plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #ThePastorsWife #Suspense #PsychologicalThriller #MysteryandThrillers

The first third of this book was slower and filled with too many unnecessary details. I understand setting the scene and establishing a background, but this was a little too long for a thriller. However, the second and third parts of this book flew by and were so enjoyable. The suspense of the killing, the downfall of the pastor, and this history of the two women made up for the first part.

This book is full of twist and turns. Told from two different perspectives, it intertwines really well as it comes together. You think you know where the plot is heading but you truly don’t. It was slow in parts of the story, but worth the read. I don’t think I’ll ever think of a pastor or his wife ever the same again. Overall it was an enjoyable quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the early access!

This book was brilliant. I was worried that it would be all about religion, but it was so much more. Great characters which 2 of them both Mary and Martha tell the story. It's all about secrets and deceit. Nothing is as it seems. Loved it.

I've been a longtime fan of Walker's work, especially her investigative ficiton. I think I need to update that now. Walker nailed the suspense and tension in her newest novel, The Pastor's Wife. She gives big Ozarks vibes.

LynDee Walker’s The Pastor’s Wife is a slow-burn stunner with just the right amount of side-eye. Whitney Falls might look like a postcard, but the smiles are a little too tight, the pastor a little too polished, and the silence behind closed doors? Deafening. The cast of characters makes you question every smile, every sermon, and every cup of sweet tea. Told from a tantalizing dual perspective, this story drips with tension, hidden pasts, and a creeping dread that coils tighter with every chapter. It’s like wandering through a house with too many Bibles and not enough honesty.

When the final revelation hits—hallelujah, it hurts.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Twisty, Southern-Gothic Slow Burn
The Pastor’s Wife by LynDee Walker is a quietly explosive psychological thriller that explores the hidden dangers behind small-town smiles, religious facades, and long-buried secrets. Told from two alternating perspectives—Mary, the seemingly perfect pastor’s wife, and Martha, a young woman struggling to survive—it unravels slowly at first, but the payoff is well worth the wait.

From the first chapter, Walker paints Whitney Falls as a picture-perfect Southern town, but something dark simmers beneath the surface. As Mary and Martha's worlds begin to collide, so do their secrets. The tension builds in layers, and just when you think you know where the story is headed, it takes a sharp, surprising turn. The final third is particularly strong—fast-paced, emotional, and full of gasp-worthy reveals.

While the pacing drags slightly in the middle, and some readers may find it hard to fully connect with the characters early on, Walker rewards patience with a tightly woven and satisfying conclusion. Themes of guilt, judgment, trauma, and redemption are handled with sensitivity and nuance.
If you enjoy domestic suspense with rich atmosphere and morally complex characters, The Pastor’s Wife is a compelling and memorable read.
Recommended for fans of:
    •    Gillian Flynn
    •    Stacy Willingham
    •    Psychological thrillers with Southern Gothic undertones

Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for the chance to read this book

Pretty good fast paced read with a decent twist at the end

☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available now on Amazon & KU!


**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

This was my first LynDee Walker book, and let's just say it will not be my last!!! 'The Pastor's Wife' is a slow burn thriller up until about 70% of the way in and then BAM, you are hit with twist after twist.

The author did an amazing job of showing how evil lurks in all forms, and is especially well hidden in those that are in power positions and/or highly admired.

Parts of this book did make my stomach turn, particularly the part similar to the Robert Pickton case (IYKYK), so DEFINITELY check your TW before reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, LynDee Walker, and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for the ARC!

Martha is an 18 year old girl with a secret. She’s new to Whitney Falls and you quickly learn that she is running from something. The new pastor’s wife reaches out to befriend her and Martha is stunned by this. She calls Mary “an actual angel” and wants to make her and her husband, Pastor Tim, happy. As she gets to know them better, things become less and less perfect in their home. Martha is hesitant to question their intentions, actions, and behaviors because she has a job and place to live because of them. But, truth always comes out!

When the book started to pick up, I did think that the plot was interesting and kept you guessing. It always seemed the both narratives were unreliable - both Mary and Martha’s. There was always either truth missing or perspective missing. At the end, I really enjoyed the ending and could see it just as a movie in my head…

But, that movie may have been on Lifetime and on during the middle of the day. While I did solidly enjoy this book at a 3 star, it didn’t seem to pick up until about 40% of the way in, in my opinion. I may have DNF’d before then if I hadn’t been reading the ARC. Unfortunately, some of the dialogue made me cringe and seemed too simple or based on a Southern stereotype. With what Martha alludes to having endured, I don’t think she would have been as naive as she was portrayed.

I think this book would appeal to readers who want a medium paced read for a vacation or car ride. It will make the time pass more quickly and may provide some talking points to anyone else around when you reach some of the twists - whether you find them farcical or truly surprising.

If you like a book with different twists, then this is for you. Told from two different perspectives, you have to love the names of Mary and Martha, the story unfolds as you learn more about each character. There were definitely some shocking scenes in the book, which I enjoyed. I enjoyed the first 25% and the last 25% of the book. It dragged on a little too much for me in the middle of the book.

The reason that I gave it three stars is because I didn't enjoy any of the characters. I usually like to cheer on at least one character, but I didn't connect with any of them. I kept picturing Mary like Georgia in Ginny & Georgia. I also felt like the story skipped around a little too much, so I was confused at times. I enjoyed the ending, but I felt it was a little rushed.

I enjoyed reading the book, though. I will never look at a pastor and his wife the same. I'm not sure that is a good thing.

Intriguing from the beginning, this thriller speaks to the heart of any of us who have felt like we don't quite fit in. Great thriller.

I love this book and all of the different boxes it checked for me: female drama: check. The church ladies, Mary, and Mary all provide more drama and mystery than you can shake a spatula at. Illicit romance: check, I can't give that away, but be prepared. Twist after twist: check. You will not believe the way this story unfolds throughout and at the end. The suspense is unreal and makes this an excellent and unexpected read. This author also manages to tackle some important social issues, so extra points for her there! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book was a real treat!

The Pastor’s Wife was overall a good read. Martha comes off as mysterious, and the pastor and his wife seem like the perfect couple on the surface. I thought I had the plot figured out early on, but it definitely took a different direction—which I appreciated. It wasn’t predictable, and that kept me engaged.

That said, I wasn’t a fan of the ending. It felt rushed, and I was left wondering what happened to the cop who was supposed to help Martha. I really wish the conclusion had been more developed, with more closure around the cop, Mary, Charlotte, the town, and especially Martha.

Thank you Bookoutre and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Told in multiple POv’s this thriller will have you questioning who to believe, is it Mary the Pastor’s wife or Martha the new woman in town.

Set amongst a small town church community filled with drama and so many secrets, this thriller will have you immersed, wondering where the truth lies and enjoying the ride as you find out.

I recommend this for a quick read that will keep you engaged throughout.