The Wife Upstairs - Rachel Hawkins

After reading so many great reviews of Rachel Hawkins' new novel, The Wife Upstairs, I added the audiobook to my holds queue at the library.

Here's the synopsis from St. Martin's Press. My thoughts follow.

"Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.

But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.

Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?"

My thoughts:

Hmmm....I thought the premise was good, having taking some inspiration from Jane Eyre. I was curious to see what Hawkins had come up with.

I found each and every character to be unlikable. Jane isn't a lead that earned any empathy from me at all. She's a conniving user, a thief and a fake, matching much of what she despises about the wealthy residents of Thornfield Estates. I'm okay with having no clear 'good' or redeeming character in a novel, but found the character development missed the mark for me as well. I never bought into the 'romance' between Jane and Eddie at all.

Most of the story is told from Jane's point of view. Chapters from Bea do pique the reader/listener's curiosity. I do applaud Hawkins' manipulation of the reader/listener as we hear more from Bea. But again, it was somewhat predictable. I just, well I just expected more I think. More of a fresh story perhaps. The Wife Upstairs ended up being just an okay book for me. Still, this was a good listen while doing some quilting. I'm definitely in the minority on this book. 

St. Martin's chose to use multiple readers for this book - Emily Shaffer, Kirby Heyborne, Lauren Fortgang. They're all readers I have enjoyed previously and they all did a good job with this novel. Listen to an excerpt of The Wife Upstairs.

The End of Her - Shari Lapena

If you're a fan of domestic noir, you should have Shari Lapena on your must read list. Her latest book, The End of Her, has just released.

Patrick and Stephanie are adapting to having a set of twin girls. The babes are colicky and mom and dad are sleep deprived. Oh, you just know things are going to ramp up!

Erica, a woman from Patrick's contacts Stephanie and tells her that Patrick's first wife's death was not an accident as her told her. Instead, Erica says that Patrick murdered her. This is just crazy Stephanie thinks, my husband couldn't be a murderer. But, she begins to have her doubts and starts to look into Patrick's past a little closer. Patrick is a bit of an enigma and I wasn't sure about his innocence or guilt. Erica is such a calculating opportunist - her scenes and dialogue are particularly well done. And she has other opportunities in mind as well.

This is a great cat and mouse plot, with the reader never quite sure who is telling the truth, who is the hunter and who is the hunted. I love the uncertainty. And the unreliability of sleep deprived Stephanie's thinking. And every other twist that Lapena threw in!

The ending caught me a bit off guard and I flipped back to see if I had missed something. I'm not going to spoil it by explaining, but after consideration, it was a fitting end.

A great escapist read - here's an excerpt of The End of Her.

Seven Lies - Elizabeth Kay

Seven Lies is Elizabeth Kay's newly released debut novel. And what a debut it is!

Jane and Marnie have been the best of friends since childhood. They have forged what seems to be an unbreakable bond despite being polar opposites. Jane is the first to change their dynamic by marrying. But when her husband dies, she wants to retreat back to the ways things were. But Marnie's life is moving on as well - she too has found a man. But....Jane doesn't like him very much. When Marnie asks her if she does in fact like him... well, that's the first lie she tells Marnie.

Kay does a fantastic job drawing these two characters. Jane is flat out scary. And obsessive. And she wants Marnie all to herself, to have Marnie need her. Marnie is eminently likeable. It's hard to see what she sees in Jane. But that just tells the reader how good Jane is at, well, at lying. Kay does a fantastic job at drawing the dialogue and interactions between the two. Jane's mother and sister are just as wounded and add to the dysfunctional feeling of Jane's life.

The reader sees everything through Jane's eyes. The book is told almost as a confession, with Jane detailing how things got to where they are. The next six lies are revealed as we come closer and closer the final pages. I didn't see what was coming with the end of her confession. Brilliant! And then to discover an epilogue that was just as unexpected. But perfect!

Disturbing, unsettling and an excellent original debut. No lie. If you like domestic noir and suspense, you need to pick up Seven Lies. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Seven Lies.

Hideaway - Nicole Lundrigan

Oh Nicole Lundrigan, you have a frightening imagination! I simply could not put down your latest release, Hideaway! Start to finish on a recent day off.

Gloria is a devoted wife to her husband Telly and mother to her teenaged son Rowan and young daughter Maisy. That's what you would see from the outside looking in. But inside it's a different matter. Gloria's moods swing from high to low with little warning. She either loves her children or 'disappears' them by banishing them to a room or a place and not speaking to them. When Telly leaves Glow for another woman, it tips her over the edge. One night Rowan has had enough and runs into the woods. And there, under a bridge, he meets Carl - a kind man who is battling his own demons - and Rowan decides to stay. And Gloria? I just don't want to say any more and spoil your discovery of the lengths a jilted (and unstable)  woman will go to to get her husband back. (But he too is, as my gran used to say, a piece of work) Yep, this is where things get downright terrifying.......

Lundrigan's character building is so very good. I don't even know how to describe Gloria. She's a master manipulator, devious, cunning and cruel. We see her actions, but don't really get a look at her inner thought processes. Instead we see them - and the aftermath - through the eyes of Rowan and Maisy. And yes, these are heartbreaking to read. It was the 'what is going to happen to Rowan and Maisy ?' that kept me reading for the whole day. Lundrigan takes her story places I couldn't have imagined .The tension was unbearable in parts and I really had to fight myself to not skip to the last chapter to make sure things turned out the way I needed them to.

It seems a little off for me to say how much I enjoyed this book given the darkness it explores. But there are patches of light as well. An easy five stars and one of my most addictive reads this year. See for yourself - here's an excerpt. This was a first read of Lundrigan for me - and it won't be the last.

Cr: AnnaLena Seemann

"Nicole Lundrigan is the author of six critically acclaimed novels, including The Substitute and Glass Boys. Her work has appeared on best of the year selections of The Globe and Mail, Amazon.ca, and Now magazine. She grew up in Newfoundland, and now lives in Toronto." You can connect with Nicole on her website and like her on Facebook.

Someone We Know - Shari Lapena

I read Shari Lapena's first thriller, The Couple Next Door, in 2016 and loved it. I promptly added Lapena to my 'must read' list. Her latest suspense novel is Someone We Know.

Okay, here's the premise - and it's a really good one!

A quiet suburb. A bored teenager who has decided to break into his neighbour's homes and have a look around. Maybe check out what's on their computers, send some emails and see what happens. It might have gone unnoticed had the teenager's mom not left an 'I'm sorry' note at the houses for the break-ins she knows about. Not a good idea at all - there is someone who has a very dark secret in the quiet neighbourhood. And truly, almost every household has secrets they would prefer not to see the light of day.

Great set-up and excellent execution! One action leads to another action and so on, changing the direction of what is going to happen with each new development. (and for many of them, I was mentally yelling no, don't do that!) Lapena kept me guessing - it was impossible to predict what happen next. I quite enjoyed trying to solve the whodunit - yes, there is murderous intent within! And many suspects to choose from.

Suspense and mystery woven together in a very readable, fast paced package. Someone We Know was an excellent read, one I had a hard time putting down. And one that might have you wondering about that neighbour at the end of the street.......read an excerpt of Someone We Know.

The Dead Ex - Jane Corry

The Dead Ex is from author Jane Corry.

Vicki is the main protagonist. She is an unreliable narrator, suffering from a faulty memory amongst other things. And she lies. When the police arrive at her door to question her about her dead husband's disappearance she is stunned. Surely they can't believe that she had anything to do with him or his disappearance. Or could she? What about his current wife Tanya? Scarlet and Zelda's stories are also told concurrently to Vicki's. Zena is a dealer and a con who uses her eight year old in her 'business.'

While I quite enjoy multiple storylines, I felt like this one went back and forth too long. Corry has indeed crafted connections between the two narratives. But I felt she tried to keep the reader guessing too long with much foreshadowing and many, many teasers. When the 'big' reveal came, I found myself underwhelmed. And without providing any spoilers, I had a hard time believing what had been alluded to. Vicki presents as far too scatterbrained and unprofessional to have been employed as she was. And given that background, the way she allows the police to treat her is completely ridiculous. On the flip side, her current health concerns do contribute to memory loss. I felt like I should be on team Vicki - but I couldn't get on board. I just didn't like her or empathize with her. Part Two gives us another female character to consider. And more actions that I had a hard time buying. I persevered and made it the end, but had pretty much lost interest by this point.

I've enjoyed Corry's previous books, but this one fell flat for me. Here's an excerpt of The Dead Ex.

The Woman Inside - E.G. Scott

The Woman Inside is a debut collaboration from E.G. Scott - a pseudonym for two NYC-based writers, one a publishing professional and one a screenwriter.

The Woman Inside is told from two viewpoints - Rebecca the wife and Paul the husband. They've been married for twenty years and each of them came to the marriage with secrets. And after twenty years, there are new secrets. Paul is having an affair and it looks like he's planning a new future for himself. Rebecca has a serious drug problem, but is not going to let Paul throw away their marriage. They're each capable of so much....

"I didn't realize what I'd done until many minutes later. Sometimes my anger is like that. The rage has been within me for so long....I've worked hard to keep it under wraps, especially from my husband."

Ahh, what follows is a lovely game of cat and mouse between the two. The reader is aware of what each player is thinking and scheming. There's also a back and forth narrative - giving us insight into the early days of the marriage.

But things takes a turn with an unexpected twist and the two are now forced to work together against a common threat. But the reader is still privy to that insider knowledge - and I could see what was coming. But I wasn't completely right - there was still another few surprises. You'll have to suspend belief on a few plot devices, but go with it.

Neither character is likeable and both are distinctly unreliable. The characters I did like were the police detectives - I found their back and forth banter quite entertaining. (Perhaps we'll see them in another book from this duo?)

If you're looking for domestic noir with some really nice twists, this is a really good bet. (But I'm not sure about that cover....) Read an excerpt of The Woman Inside.

The Woman Inside reads like a film - and TV rights to The Woman Inside have already been bought!

Giveaway - Blood Orange - Harriet Tyce

Domestic noir fans - I've got a great title for you! Harriet Tyce's debut novel Blood Orange releases Feb. 9/19 - and I have a copy to give away!

What's it about? From Grand Central Publishing:

"A young lawyer's outwardly perfect life spirals out of control as she takes on her first murder case in this dark and twisty debut thriller for readers of Paula Hawkins, A.J. Finn, or Shari Lapena.

Alison has it all. A doting husband, adorable daughter, and a career on the rise--she's just been given her first murder case to defend. But all is never as it seems...

Just one more night. Then I'll end it. 
Alison drinks too much. She's neglecting her family. And she's having an affair with a colleague whose taste for pushing boundaries may be more than she can handle.

I did it. I killed him. I should be locked up. 
Alison's client doesn't deny that she stabbed her husband - she wants to plead guilty. And yet something about her story is deeply amiss. Saving this woman may be the first step to Alison saving herself.

I'm watching you. I know what you're doing.
But someone knows Alison's secrets. Someone who wants to make her pay for what she's done, and who won't stop until she's lost everything...." Read an excerpt of Blood Orange.

"Harriet Tyce grew up in Edinburgh. She studied English at Oxford University and Law at City University before working as a criminal barrister for nearly a decade. She lives in London. Blood Orange is her debut novel." You can connect with Harriet on her website and follow her on Twitter.

And if you'd like to read Blood Orange, enter for a chance to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, ends Feb 23/19.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Her One Mistake - Heidi Perks

I never tire of suspense novels! My latest listen is Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks. And it was really, really good!

Harriet is a very protective mother. She has never left her four year old daughter Alice with anyone. She's taking a course (that she doesn't want her husband to know about) so she agrees to let her best friend Charlotte take Alice to the school fair with her own children. But, the unthinkable happens - Alice goes missing....and Charlotte is to blame. Is there a more frightening premise!?

Her One Mistake is told in alternating chapters from Harriet and Charlotte's viewpoints. As listeners we are privy to both women's thoughts, emotions and angst. But we also get a glimpse into their private lives. Despite being best friends, Harriet never really talks about herself, her past or her marriage. And there's a lot going on in Harriet's marriage. Her husband Brian is so well written. The public see one face, but Harriet lives with another. I love the back and forth method of storytelling. Although, it does ensure I stay up far too late, listening to just one more chapter.

But where is Alice? Is she dead or alive? Perks throws in a plot twist that I didn't see coming at all. And the title? Her One Mistake - whose mistake? And what mistake? You'll have to listen to find out!

There were three readers for Her One Mistake - Kirsty Dillon, Julie Maisey and Sally Scott. Now, I'm not sure who played what part, but they were all excellent. Charlotte's voice was more confident and Harriet's tone portrayed her hesitancy. All the emotions - anger, fear and grief that would come with a lost child are believable from both readers, But the narrator for Brian was really, really good. The quiet reasonable tone used belies something darker. And when that happens, the inflection is perfect. An all round excellent performance. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love listening to books. You become immediately immersed in the tale by listening. Listen to an audio excerpt of Her One Mistake.

Lies - T. M. Logan

Lies is T.M. Logan's debut novel.

Joe Lynch is driving home with his young son William when he spots his wife Mel's car in traffic. William wants to show her something, so they decide to follow her and say hi. Uh huh, you got it.....what happens isn't quite what Joe expected.

He finds Mel arguing with her best friend's husband in a hotel lobby. He backs off and waits in the parking garage instead to speak to her. Mel leaves before Joe can catch up with her, so decides to confront the husband instead. Bad move Joe. This chance meeting is the starting point of a crazy spiral that leaves Joe a wanted man.

Social media and technology are used very effectively as a plot device in Lies. How much of what we see and read is the truth? Or lies? What can be manipulated? Lies will definitely have you wondering  about your own online presence. But what about the human factor? Mel keeps telling Joe he's got it wrong. She tells one tale after another. And Joe keeps believing her! I must admit, I got quite frustrated with Joe's continued belief in his wife. Joe is the ultimate nice guy though and without that belief, the book wouldn't move forward. And it does move forward quickly. I hadn't fully predicted the twist at the end, but there are only so many characters to choose from, so you may suss out the whodunit it in the final chapters.

Lies was an easy, addictive, entertaining read. See for yourself - here's an excerpt of Lies. Great debut and I look forward to Logan's next novel.

The Exes' Revenge - Jo Jakeman

The Exes' Revenge is Jo Jakeman's debut novel.

Imogen, Ruby and Naomi all have one thing in common - Phillip. Current wife Imogen desperately wants a divorce and full custody of their son. Ex wife Ruby still believes she has a connection with Pip. And girlfriend Naomi has discovered the kind of man Phillip really is....abusive, manipulating and sadistic. And he's a cop.

I loved the timeline of Jakeman's storytelling. The book opens with Phillip's funeral. So we know the ending....

"There are only three of us here - Naomi, Ruby and I - who know how satisfying it feels to know that Phillip Rochester got the death he deserved."

....but it is the how that makes the book. That how unfolds in chapters starting twenty two days before Phillip's death and moves forward to the day of the funeral. We get to know the background of each woman with a few flashback chapters to set the tone for the present. The Exes' Revenge is not a character driven novel, but is instead driven by action. Jakeman keeps the reader on their toes with many shifts of power between the women and Phillip. And between themselves as well - can they really trust each other?

For pragmatic readers, some of the plot devices will need to be taken with a grain of salt. But go with it as they absolutely work for the tale Jakeman has imagined. The Exes' Revenge was a good debut and an entertaining page turner. I can absolutely see this one as a movie. Read an excerpt of The Exes' Revenge.

Our House - Louise Candlish

I loved the premise of Louise Candlish's new novel Our House.

Our home is our sanctuary, a place you've made your own. What would you do if you came home to find a moving van? Not moving your stuff out - but moving another family in. A family that has what looks to be legitimate papers proving they've bought your house. That's what happens to Fiona Lawson and her estranged husband Bram.

Oh, there are so many possibilities as to where this scenario could go!  Candlish unfolds her story in an epistolary format, with Fiona's plight being recounted on a victims of crime podcast. I enjoyed the addition of comments from viewers. Bram's narrative is revealed through a word document he is writing. With the two stories running parallel, the reader is privy to what is happening and has happened to both Fiona Bram.

Despite being the 'victim', I wasn't firmly in Fiona's corner. I thought she made some questionable decisions. And her 'house proud' attitude rubbed me the wrong way. But hey, it's those choices and developments that drew me deeper into the story and ramped up the tension. Bram? Well, I didn't even have a smidgen of sympathy for him at all - until the last quarter of the book. I had pretty much decided how things were going to end - and then Candlish threw in a last twist and turn in the final pages. A really good one that there was no way of predicting.

Our House was a great read for me and I look forward to Candlish's next book. Here's an excerpt of Our House. You can connect with Louise Candlish on her website.