I enjoyed this book but not at the same level of satisfaction that I enjoy 3 stars reads in this similar genre. In thinking about why that is, I conclude that I never felt there was any real sense of threat; certainly there were characters that should have seemed threatening, but as the reader, I never actually believed that they were the "bad guy"

It is however, a very unique approach to the mystery/thriller genre. There were twists that I thought were going to zig but then they zagged and left me disoriented. I did appreciate the exploration of mental health issues and abuse in this book. While I have no personal frame of reference for the mental health condition, it seemed to be handled in a way that skimmed the surface rather than going deep.

I received an eARC from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

The story is set in 1980s Ireland and tells the stories of two women Rita-Mae and Dorrie. Rita-Mae is an abused wife and is desperate to escape the clutches of her husband and so when she sees a cottage advertised she decides to take it and go into hiding. She is always scared that he will find her though and always feels that she is being watched. When Dorrie wakes up in a strange town with a bloodstained coat she is totally confused she does not know what she is doing there!

As the story alternates between the two women you are drawn in wondering what the connection is between them but there are so many twists and turns that you are constantly changing you're mind. A bit slow to get into at the start but a great ending

The Spinster Wife by Christina McKenna is an emotional journey for one woman as she finds the strength to rebuild her life and deal with the demons that haunt her. The story opens as Dorinda “Dorrie” Walsh wakes up in a B&B on the Northern Irish coast, disoriented and covered in blood. Shifting to Rita Mae Ruttle, an abused housewife in Killoran, she finds an ad for a rental house and she decides to make a run for it and hide from her husband. Once there, she gets the sense that she’s being followed and even set up for strange occurrences which happen since she arrived. As the story goes back and forth between Dorrie and Rita, the reader is led on a path of twists and turns to discovering how the two women are connected. Is Rita truly safe from her abusive husband? How are the two women connected?
From the first page, the story takes the reader on a journey of twists and turns, of dangers and suspicions. And just when you thought you had it figured out, another twist and another turn. The resolution as the story reveals the connection between Dorrie and Rita is a shocker and the author does a brilliant job keeping it a secret until the big reveal. I loved it! I highly recommend The Spinster Wife as a brilliant story with excellent twists and turns which will leave the reader guessing until the very end!

The Spinster Wife
Is available in paperback and eBook

The Spinster Wife by Christina McKenna kept me from doing housework. It really kept my attention and I will keep an eye out for future books....Great read for those who love a good thriller.

As with other reviewers, I almost stopped reading this book several times. It was slow and I wasn't sure where it was going. However, I kept reading and was amazed how the two main characters connected at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the privilege of being able to read this book.

Set in the 1980s in Ireland, this book tells the story of Ruth and Dorrie, two troubled women. Ruth is married to an abusive husband and leaves to a cottage to start over but strange things start happening there. Dorrie wakes up in a beach town not knowing how she got there and why she is there. Throughout the book you get to know and understand these two women, especially Ruth and the story moves fast enough to keep the reader engaged and wanting to find out how it all ends.

Lovely book to read. Lots of mystery and suspense. I found the main character irritating which is good because she left an emotion on me.

3.5 stars Suspenseful story that drew me in. Sad and at times a bit confusing to follow, but still a good read.

3/5 ⭐️ and that is probably being generous. I really struggled between 2 and 3 stars for this book, although I didn't skim a single part of it.

First off, I thought there were way too many scenes of abuse in this book. There are some authors (like Karin Slaughter) that can write a book with abuse, or any other nasty topic, and not overpower you with it throughout the entire book. I thought this author went too far with those scenes and could have made them either a little more vague, or just not have had so many in the book. I felt incredibly uncomfortable, which would normally be fine, but I just felt too overcome with them in this book.

There were a few parts that did make me chuckle, so the whole book wasn't completely depressing, but for the most part it was a very sad state of affairs. This book was set in Ireland, and while this is not my first book set there, it seemed very different from the others I have read. The conversations held in this book were sometimes difficult to understand, but the rest of the writing and the speech of the main characters were completely unlike those of the conversations held throughout the book.

Also, I really hated the ending. I can't really say why without giving anything away, but it just didn't feel like it was doing the characters or the book justice. There had to have been a better outcome... In more ways than one. The only reason I gave this book a 3 instead of a 2, is because I was never bored with it, and it did keep me guessing until the end. Overall though, this was just not my type of book and I doubt I would recommend it.

*My reviews can also be seen at readingbetweenwinessite.wordpress.com

I read this title in 2 sessions overnight. The story had drawn me in and I didn't want to see where it was going to lead.

Rita-Mae has decided to flee her abusive husband. But, changing her location doesn't take away her fears. Meanwhile, Dorrie awakens in a B&B with no idea how she got there and why there is a bloodstained coat in her possession.

Throughout the pages, the reader learns more of Rita and Dorrie's backstories. Alongside is the 40 something former undertaker, Brem, who is drawn to Rita and wants to do anything needed to save her from outside threats.

There are many different themes that are woven into this story. Rita volunteers with the Samaritans, a suicide hotline. She also suffers from domestic violence since her wedding night. And, Rita is the object of a stalker. While the likelihood that one woman will have it all happening at the same time, these are all things that plague individuals.

The ending of this book was excellent, but I almost gave up on it early on. It was a slog of a read for almost half of it. What kept me reading were a few tantalizing mysteries and the fact that I have an interest in the subject of domestic violence.

The chapters alternate between Rita-Mae, on the run from an abusive husband, and Dorrie, who wakes up in a hotel with no idea how she got there. Rita-Mae discovers some troubling information about the tenant who rented the house before her, and for Dorrie, she has to remember how she got where she is and what the bloodstained clothing means.

The novel is set in 1980s Ireland, but for the most part, it felt like I was reading something from 1920s England. I read a lot of Irish authors and always feel like I’m right there in Ireland with them. The language used here didn’t do that for me. There was a lot of “My goodness gracious!” type stuff.

The mystery unfolds nicely, but you really need fortitude to get the reward.

I am waffling between two and three star rating on this one. I think the writing was good but the plot seemed stilted to me. Rita Mae and Dorrie's stories are told in alternating chapters but neither of them have clear voices and once done reading I was left with an overall feeling of dissatisfaction..
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

The Spinster Wife is a well written book. I enjoyed the plot and the setting. The author was new to me and I see myself reading more of her books in the future.

This book was not for me sadly. i found it to dark. Well written but just not for me sorry

This book was my first of the authors. It held my interest from beginning to end

The Spinster Wife by Christina McKenna is a work of fiction which includes some historical information.
Rita-Mae lives in fear for as long as she can remember; at this point it is fear of her husband. While he is away working she sees an ad for a cottage for rent in another town and decides to make her escape. Will the cottage offer the happiness she expects and the new town the anonymity? Dorinda Walsh wakes up in another strange town with no idea how she got there. She has been adrift for as long as she can remember. Will the lives of these two women cross? Can they help each other survive or will they be the demise of each other?
I almost didn’t finish this book. Trigger topics of physical abuse, alcohol abuse and possibly drugs abound in this story. The book goes back and forth between the stories of Rita and Dorinda which I found very confusing at times and hard to follow what was happening. I must say that almost none of the characters is who they seem to be on the surface; good writing perhaps but confusing for me. The characters are very well developed and you can see their motives in their actions or you think you do until they show another side of their character. The author makes this transition very seamlessly. There is a lot going on in the story beyond the main story of Rita and Dorinda trying to get their lives in order. The ending tied up a lot of loose ends but not everything, in my opinion. I did not care for this book but I give it 4 of 5 stars for the writing and the fact that others may like it.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was a well-written, nice balance of suspense, humor and dark drama. Two women, Rita-Mae and Dorrie, are each battling their own inner and outer demons. Their stories are a compelling and poignant look at adversity, abuse, addiction, mental illness and what it takes to survive and overcome. Both characters are multi-faceted, written with rich complexity and sublime depth and easily draw you into their world. I found my heart just breaking for both of them and was completely taken off guard by the unexpected twist at the end.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Stick with this one. There are alternating voices- Rita-Mae and Dorrie. You might find Rita more sympathetic because of her horrible history with her ex Harry and the fact that she does a lot to help herself. Don't discount Dorrie, though, who has mental health issues and is struggling. What's the deal with Bram the landlord? This is a psychological thriller so you'll have to be patient with some of the plot twists. The end did come as a surprise to me, which is always a positive in this sort of novel. It's well written and carefully plotted (I picture the chart McKenna must have had on her wall while writing). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read.

A true escape book for anyone who has wanted to escape their past, their life, themselves.

The Spinster Wife is about two women. One is fleeing from an abusive husband and the other is fighting her demons in a battle with alcohol. There are touches of humour but overall, this is a suspense filled book.The whole story just left me feeling a bit confused but it was very well written. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon.