A well written book by Kerry Wilkinson who is a new author to me.
The Wife's Secret which is a compelling psychological thriller, my favourite genre and a perfect book for me. The story line was gripping and I loved the style of writing where you get involved with the characters and find yourself not being able to put the book down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more of this author.

I received a free e-copy of The Wife's Secret by Kerry Wilkinson from NetGalley for my honest review.

Loved it! Another gripping psychological thriller from Kerry Wilkinson.

Charley Willis, who at the age of thirteen, was found hiding in a cupboard in her home where her parents were murdered.

Fifteen years later, Charley is getting ready to get married to marry Seth. What should be the happiest day of their lives take a very scary twist. Charley is missing just hours after the wedding ceremony. Where is she?

For Seth, his worst nightmare is just beginning. He is quickly realizing that he doesn't really know his wife at all

Gripping and full of shocking twists, this is a stay up late to finish page-turner! Complex characters and several mysteries come together to keep the reader on edge. An excellent read.

I really enjoyed this thriller as it has all the elements I love: family secrets, dysfunctional characters, past and present blended, and a nice twisty ending! It starts with Seth and Charley's wedding when suddenly Charley disappears at her own reception. Was she abducted or did she leave of her own free will? The police have no leads and so it's up to Seth to uncover the dark family secrets that have plagued the Willis family since Charley and her brother and sister were young and their parents were murdered. The killer was never caught; is he still out there, and is there a "curse" on the family? Kept me riveted until the end!

So many books these days have a tagline similar to this one: “A gripping psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist.” Some don’t live up to the hype, while others rise to the occasion and earn the tag. This book is solidly in the latter category. At first glance, it seems as if the alternating chapters of present and past, with the past coming from multiple viewpoints and at varying times, would be confusing. But the author keeps juggling everything, and does so with finesse. The method highlights the dread of knowing that everything is not as it seems, while building layers of plot that make the twists true “OMG” moments. I loved every page of this book, and upon finishing, immediately downloaded other books by Kerry Wilkinson. An excellent psych thriller in a crowded market. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Yet another cracking stand alone thriller from Kerry Wilkinson who seems to be getting better with every book he writes.Charley and Seth have got married but just after the ceremony Charley disappears and Seth is left distraught not knowing where to look with no clues to her whereabouts.Charley had a traumatic childhood being brought up in the spotlight of her parents showbiz lifestyle and then being present in the house when they were both brutally murdered,but she had put all that behind her after meeting Seth,but the betrayals,lies and secrets are unearthed as Seth searches for Charley and the truth together.As ever with Kerry Wilkinson's books you find yourself gripped from the first page and this book is no different,although the ending was a bit predictable i still found The Wife's Secret an excellent 5 star read.

Kerry has to be one of the most versatile authors. Whether its YA, paranormal mystery or psychological thrillers, each one of his books is marvelous. I am happy to report that The Wife’s Secret now joins my list of favorite books by this author.

Charley disappeared on her wedding day. She was lastly seen at the wedding reception before she went missing, leaving her new husband, Seth, with nothing but questions. This isn’t the first time that Charley has been in the limelight. Fifteen years before, someone killed her parents while little Charley was hiding in a cupboard upstairs.

Seth, Charley’s husband, is the main narrator in this story. It was easy to sympathize with him. His wedding day, which was supposed to be a happy occasion, has turned into a nightmare. There are a number of other narrators in this story. A few chapters are also set in the past timeline depicting days before and after the death of Charley’s parents.

Kerry wrote this story in a way that each narration feels like a puzzle piece. Bit by bit, the pieces come together to reveal the big picture and I can assure you, Seth’s Wife was keeping a massive secret.

Kerry’s writing as always is engaging, descriptive and utterly addictive. I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this thriller. I was desperate for answers and couldn’t wait until the puzzle was complete. Everything from the plot line, characters to the mystery was masterfully developed.

I also loved the themes. Money, fame, family drama and greed, definitely the perfect concoction for this riveting, heart-pounding thriller.

What if after your bride says “I do,“ she has done disappeared???

Welcome to Seth’s life, after his bride goes missing during the reception.... turning his dream day into a nightmare... but would Charlie really run off? They were happy, weren’t they? Did somebody take her? But why? Seth knew Charlie had a bit of a past, but how well did he really know his wife?

This is a riveting thriller with short chapters that keep you glued to those pages! Told from multiple points of view, Seth in the present and Charlie in the past... this was a tremendously impactful and perfect way to tell or shall I say reveal the story.... because as layer after layer after layer was peeled away you began to see the true story right along with Seth... Seth was a very sympathetic character, I really felt for him, is confusion, his fear.... but as a seasoned veteran of the psychological thriller genre, I couldn’t help but question every move he made.... I mean a lot of times it is the husband, right? But is it this time? Or has Charlie‘s pass come back to haunt her?🤐

Charlie grew up in the spotlight as the child of a famous couple made infamous after a gruesome murder.... Charlie was then raised by her 22-year-old sister Martha, but this was not the only tragedy to strike this family.... now even though I do respect charlie’s right to privacy, if I were Seth I would’ve been brimming with questions and curiosity.... it baffles me that Seth wasn’t more inquisitive, but would that have solved anything? Would this have not happened? I’m not sure about that.... some secrets are so deeply buried that not even a nosy significant other can dig them out....

Kerry Wilkinson has fast become an automatic download for me, and this book just reinforces that! He has a way of setting the scene, bringing those characters to life, and keeping you on the edge of your seat.... there is nothing better than a twisty thriller that keeps you guessing with a jaw dropping ending.... but the cherry on top is when you can look back and see how all those puzzle pieces fit together, and how you missed all those clues! Stumped again!

For all you psychological thriller fans out there, this is a must read!

*** A huge thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

another corker from this author!

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read The Wife's Secret by Kerry Wilkinson for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

My first time reading Kerry Wilkinson and I do not regret it!

I give it 4 stars. This was really good, interesting from page 1!
Seth and Charley Chambers get married, she goes missing right after! What happened?
Really well written, captivating! Good characters and plot!

Review shared online on NetGalley, Twitter, Goodreads...

Seth and Charley Chambers have just gotten married and are at their wedding reception. Seth’s sister, Emily, is taking the photos and both siblings are keeping an eye on their Mum who is sinking into dementia. But Charley has gone missing. Seth’s mother said she saw her leave through a back door wearing her wedding dress.

Charley’s parents were Paul and Annie Willis. They were a wealthy couple who had made their money by hosting or being part of local television shows. Charley was named Charlotte but prefers Charley. She has an older brother, Liam, and an older sister, Martha. When Charley was a small child and in bed one night, she heard her mother scream downstairs. Her father had told her that if she was ever scared, she must hide in her closet behind her clothes basket. She did that and stayed very quiet until her sister, Martha, came looking for her. It appears that their parents had been brutally murdered in the house. The killer has never been found.

At the reading of the wills, the three siblings were each left a million pounds and they will share the proceeds from the sale of the house or keep it and share it. Paul’s brother, David, is furious that nothing has been left to him and his children so he is out for revenge by trying to ruin the reputations of Paul and Annie.

As the years pass, the sisters try to keep a low profile as they do not want any publicity. Liam, on the other hand, has tried to use his fame in Hollywood but has failed. When, another death occurs and with Charley missing, people wonder if the Willis Curse has struck again.

This is a good book that I’m sure readers will enjoy. There are some good twists and turns that will you guessing. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wow this was an amazing book that gripped me from fist page to last. Still thinking about it! This author is one of my favourites and he just keeps getting better with every book. This book was a fast paced roller coaster and I loved it so much, even more so as it made me question everything I thought I knew multiple times. Still thinking about the characters. Stunning and absolutely brilliant! One of my favourite books of the year!

No one saw her leave. No one knows where she is.

One thing is for certain…Seth is about to discover he doesn’t really know the woman he just married. And his nightmare is only just beginning.

Imagine your wedding day, the happiest day of you life and your new wife goes missing only hours after you two are married.

This was an amazing book! I was so engulfed in the story, I ended up reading it in one sitting.

Thank you #NetGalley for this early copy of #TheWifesSecret by Kerry Wilkinson

Pub Date: 10 Oct 2018

Kerry Wilkinson, please take a bow while I applaud you. 👏🏻
This was one of the BEST books I’ve read this year. Or ever.
Here’s why:
* The writing is amazing. No fluff, just a story that pulls you in. Honestly, the first couple of pages were even funny. I loved Raj and his brother and the drunken antics like “there’s Raj laughing to himself in a corner”
* The Chapters in the years of Charly’s life
* I read this and I was IN IT. Kerry Wilkinson does such an amazing job of gripping you in and setting you right there in the scene.
* This read like a Dateline episode. I ♥️ Dateline. I even heard Keith’s voice reading a few lines.
* Uniquely written

10 stars!!! This book comes out tomorrow, the 10th and I can’t say this enough...R E A D it!!!

Thank you #NetGalley, the publisher which is #Bookouture, and the author for my ARC in exchange for me honest review.

Summary: all the stars!!!

“The Willis Curse; The Cursed Family; The Mysterious Willis Family.” Expressions like this followed Charley Willis around ever since the brutal murder of her celebrity parents when she was thirteen years old. Charley had hidden away from such awful terms, as well as horrendous memories, for years. However, on her wedding day to Seth Chambers, she suddenly disappears.

Quite naturally, the police and the media are desperately seeking answers. But no one more-so than Seth. The question boils down to this: Did Charley leave of her own accord or was she taken?

The Wife’s Secret is told from Seth’s point of view in the present, as well as Charley’s story, from her younger years to the time of her disappearance. As insightful as the flashbacks into Charley’s life are, the twists and turns are ultimately quite shocking. There is a tremendous amount of family drama revealed in this story.

As the description clearly indicates, Seth is about to discover that he really didn’t know the woman he just married. They had a quickly evolving relationship, but Charley kept the deep, dark secrets of her past from Seth. What if Seth had pushed Charley, would things have turned out any differently?

While the intrigue was quite sharp during this story, it was problematic at times. As a reader, I was far more interested in whether or not Charley would be found than the flashbacks. However, things did pick up. When they did, things began to click into place. While it became evident to me early on regarding the truth of the tragedy Charley experienced, I was definitely able to remain engaged. One strong pull to this story was the family drama and relationships. I most assuredly was eager to know of what possible resolution could be had. For such a great story, I was a bit sore about the conclusion.

Although Kerry Wilkinson is new to me, he certainly is not new to the genre, having written dozens of quite successful books. There is no doubt of his accomplishments, as he certainly penned quite a riveting story here. I am eager to read more of his titles.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

WOW! Kerry Wilkinson has done it again with another riveting, perceptive novel. He's an effortless writer and I'm addicted to his special brand of Kerry-wit which has me helpless. His acute observation of people, empathy and sensitivity is reflected superbly in his characterisation and dialogue. There are so many intriguing diverse characters and you tune into their lives with utter disbelief in some cases. There's also an interesting but daunting sub-plot on Dementia. This novel - a standalone - is about greed, a fragile relationship, a past trauma namely the Willis Curse and the obsession with the power of fame and notoriety. My first observation is that Seth, one of the main characters appears to be emotionally estranged from his girlfriend Charley. He has just married her and they've been together for two years but they haven't reached the first base of an intimacy of getting to know each other. He has the mindset of living in the present, believing that the past is unimportant. His mistaken logic trips him up. He's not aware that the present and the future are shaped by the past. The couple seem to be separate entities. When Charley disappears and bizarre situations unfold around him his responses are lukewarm. It caused me to argue with myself when trying to analyse him. Is it the old British reserve and stiff upper lip? Doesn't he care? Emotionally detached? Or is he an ordinary "bloke" who doesn't think much deeper than his next meal, drink or football match? He's not sleeping or eating too well so perhaps he is stoical. He's a vet so he's far from stupid. All this analysis is simplistic in the end - a lot of shocks and revelations about the past and Seth learns how important the past can be. it's the kind of novel which forces you against your better judgement at night to read another chapter - than another. The confession of a weak-willed reader. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

I was really looking forward to reading this and, happily, I wasn't disappointed.

Charley's parents were famous - wholesome TV hosts loved by the nation - until they were murdered when Charley was 13. She is taken in by older sister Martha, the wild child of the family. Years later, she is marrying Seth, in a low key ceremony which is perfect for them. But then it all begins to go wrong.

I really liked Seth. He seems to be a nice guy, down to earth, 'normal'. A guy enjoying his wedding day to the woman he loves. And then she disappears. Did she leave? Was she taken? Seth is understandably confused and upset, and his bewilderment is well described.

I can't say much more about the story without giving any spoilers. What I can tell you is that this is a family centred drama, told in the past and present. My opinions of Charley changed as I moved through the book, and learnt more about her. I loved Martha - she is brave, strong, passionate and fights for what is right.

This is a tight, well told story. All the characters in the cast are fully described, and I had strong reactions to a couple of them, which stayed with me after I'd finished reading. The tension mounts as the story progresses, and there are plenty of 'OMG' moments as we learn more. And as we learn things, so does Seth. I really felt for him, and would love to know what was happening a couple of years on from the end of the book!

This was my first experience of Kerry Wilkinson's writing, and I can't wait to read more.

Usually, when I read a book like this, I know exactly what’s going on way too early in the book. In this one, Wilkinson kept surprising me.

While I’m not the biggest fan of books with flashbacks, Wilkinson uses them well here, slowly building a picture that leads to a horrifying truth.

The book is highly suspenseful definitely kept me guessing.

As for the end? There’s a surprising darkness there that was very satisfying.

An excellent read!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

A very good standalone from one of my favourite authors. How well does a person know who they are going to marry? Lots of action, a great story, interesting characters and plenty twists. Another cracker of a story. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook with Amazon to follow.

I love Kerry Wilkinson’s books and this one was no exception.
This is a gripping thriller and I was desperate to know the outcome.
Charley and Seth have just got married and at the Reception, Charley goes missing. Seth is very worried and as the days pass he becomes desperate to know what has happened to her.
Alongside this story is the story of Charley’s childhood and a glimpse into her life with her sister, Martha, after a tragedy strikes their family.
I can’t say too much more as I don’t want to spoil it for you.
I loved this story and particularly liked the ending.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.