I am so glad I never read the blurbs. This has such an unusual start that the blurb would have spoilt. A great hook and grab beginning.
A little creeped out by the main character so far. Only fourth chapter in so we see but not sure if I'm going to like her yet...
Okay about 30% through this story and I'm struggling to find a connection to the main character. Still not liking her and the story although well written has not grabbed my attention. I will continue as I'm on the second faze of the story to see if I can get into this story.
Sorry this story was not for me. Disliked Sam all the way through and the ending was obvious to me.

I feel very conflicted about this book. On the one hand I found it to be compelling and difficult to put down, but on the other hand I thought parts of it were predictable, the characters weren’t always consistent and the pacing was off at points. I think this book is worth reading as it was very contemporary and an interesting exploration of the justice system, but if you’re expecting a thriller with unexpected twists and turns this probably is not the book for you.

the characters in this book were well drawn - Samantha the innocent (or is she?) and Dennis the creep.

Although I found it slow at the beginning, the pace soon picked up as Samantha got drawn into Dennis's world. I initially felt sorry for her being so easily controlled but eventually I realised that she got some sense of enjoyment from it.

It was a strange and disturbing book. and I'm still not sure if I really enjoyed it.

A believable account of how a lonely vulnerable young women was taken in by a convicted criminal. I have seen true crime stories where women write to prisoners and subsequently end up in relationships. This explores that issue but goes a step further when the prisoner appeals his conviction. Very interesting read, if slightly far-fetched at the end.

I absolutely loved The Innocent Wife. It's a fairly unique read, with a nod towards shows such as Making a Murderer and not like anything I'd read before. The tension builds and builds and towards the end I was genuinely scared! It was a hard story to end and I thought it became a tiny bit too far fetched towards the end, but I really liked the final chapter and how the story was left. Definitely one to read if you like a good crime/mystery/thriller.

I'm not sure if I was part of the target audience for this book but I didn't really enjoy it at all. The characters seemed weak and the plot was easy to predict. I had a hard time finishing it.

Sam… awkward, lonely, and self conscious has a bad break-up with a boyfriend. Intrigued with death row inmate, Dennis Danson’s story, she begins to write to him. He writes back to her swearing to his innocence. After 20 years of being wrongly locked up, he is exonerated!

Can Sam and Dennis marry and begin living a normal life together…Or is there more to Dennis’s past than he is telling Sam? As his past resurfaces and childhood friends begin coming around, Sam soon realizes that she might have been better off thinking things thru. But it’s too late for that. Now she has to make decisions that will affect how the end of this story plays out!

Amy Lloyd did a great job casting characters that were very memorable. After reading straight through half of it and going to bed, I found myself not being able to sleep. Thinking about Dennis, Sam, & Lindsay and what could possibly have happened all those years ago kept my mind racing! I had to read straight through the rest when I woke up!

So… a fast paced, heart pounding, mind racing thriller that fans of suspense and crime should definitely read!

An excellent debut and a gripping read. Elegantly written and well thought-out. I'm always suspicious when something is so highly lauded that it's going to be hype over substance. But this was great

I really loved the concept of this book, as I've always enjoyed creepy stories and I'm fascinated by women who write to convicted men. However, Samantha wasn't a character I could connect with and I struggled with most of her decisions, as she wasn't crazy enough for me to find her remotely interesting. Of course, I never liked Danny at all either, but the book was actually really entertaining and overall an easy read. I'm sad to say that I didn't care much for the mystery. It wasn't entirely predictable and it wasn't surprising either.

Not my usual type of book but I did enjoy this, although I did find it quite creepy.

There was an underlying sense of tension throughout the story - particularly in the second half which made me keep on reading to find out what was going to happen. There was depth to the characters, I enjoyed getting to know them. It is a twisting tale and I was surprised by the ending.

An excellent debut novel and I will certainly look out for further books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book draws you in from the very start and is written in such a way that it keeps the reader engaged throughout as the tension builds until it reaches its climax.

Dennis was eighteen years old when he was convicted of brutally murdering a young girl in his hometown of Red River County, Florida. For the past twenty years or so he has been in prison, on death row, but has always proclaimed his innocence.

Following his conviction a documentary was made about the case, evidence which was discarded and other such things which throw doubts on the conviction. There were forums and websites dedicated to Dennis whose followers also believed his innocence.

Samantha, a schoolteacher from England, was introduced to Dennis’ case by her then boyfriend Mark and she soon became fixated with the case and with Dennis himself. She starts writing to Dennis and soon love blossoms between the two.

Samantha gives up her life in England to go and visit Dennis in prison. He persuades her to become involved in the new documentary being made about the case and eventually asks her to marry him. The new campaign throws up evidence which sees Dennis exonerated and free to lead his life.

Samantha thinks that things will really take off between them now but Dennis is more reserved than she thought and takes time to get used to his freedom having been locked away for so long.

Not everyone believes Dennis is innocent and soon there are cracks in his and Samantha’s relationship which leave her wondering if in fact he is as innocent as he proclaims.

I read this book in one sitting as I was hooked. I can’t say that I really warmed to any of the main characters - Samantha was a bit flaky and Dennis was a bit shady.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This story gripped me right from the start. It afforded an (imaginary) insight into what it might be like to be tied up with a serious crime or in love with someone who had committed one. It gives such an interesting perspective on the psychology of the situation and what might cause someone to fall in love with a person who may be fundamentally bad.
I was really gripped throughout and I would definitely recommend it.

The Innocent Wife by Amy Lloyd is a contemporary psychological thriller that will mess with your mind as truth and lies merge. Goodness and evil blur as the reader the reader tries to work out what really happened.
The novel has misfits thrown together because the world doesn't seem to want them.
There is the theme of abuse in childhood. The sins of the fathers seem to have far reaching effects.
Evil has a face. The reader just has to work out whose face it is.
Fear and curiosity are motivating forces. Sometimes fear seems mesmerising. The mind is a powerful force. It will lead us to believe things that are not necessarily true. Our mind can lead us where we do not really want to go.
The Innocent Wife was gripping. I read with heart racing. I definitely developed trust issues, along with the characters as I read on.
A compulsive read that you do not want to read alone.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Overall I enjoyed this book.

The first half was a bit slow and there were a few moments of thinking was it worth continuing.
Glad I didn't give up as it turned a corner and became quite a page turner!

I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading it and finished it in an afternoon. It’s an amazing debut that’s hugely compulsive. It’s a disturbing read but thoroughly engrossing.

Dennis Danson was 18 years old when he was convicted for multiple murders in Red River County. He has maintained his innocence for the murder that he was convicted on and with a documentary film made about his case and many online discussions regarding his case, interest into his crime has remained and a new series true crime documentary with backing from a big maker has been made.



Our main character Samantha hears about Dennis' case and quickly becomes obsessed with all the details and absorbs herself into the online discussions about the case and starts to write Dennis. Filling the void in her life with her letters to Dennis, they soon become romantically involved and she makes the trip to America to see Dennis in person.



Things progress quickly and Samantha gets married to Dennis before new evidence comes to light and his days in prisons are coming to an end. Conflicting emotions overcome Samantha as she learns Dennis will be released. Many things happen after he is released and her life with him is not as she had imagined they would be. Throughout the book we follow Samantha as she is questioning her feelings for Dennis and whether he is actually innocent or not.



The book is a good read, the ending I wasn't quite sure of as most of the story is wrapped up quickly towards the end and after reading half of the book you can sort of guess what will happen but you're not sure how the author will end the story.

Loved this book, kept me in suspense right the way through, lot of twists and turns, gripped right to the end

The novel is told by alternate chapters .....
The book centres around a relationship between Samantha, a teacher from England and Dennis who is on death row...
After watching a documentary on his case, she felt compelled to start writing to him, expressing her belief that he was wrongly accused and convicted and was thrilled when he started to write back to her....
This is a gripping tale of loneliness, obsession and betrayal....
A great book

Thank you for an ARC for this book to read

Thank you so much NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced arc in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped I would. I think this was down to not liking any of the characters, I also didn’t like the instant love at the beginning of the story. I also thought the last part of the book seemed rushed.

If you have watched Netflix's Making of a Murderer, then reading this is like watching the show again - with a difference!
Clever and disturbing a fast paced grim read!