This is not a story you’ll easily forget! They look like any other suburban family- 2 attractive, fit parents, a teenage son and daughter. Except what you see is not what is true. While the kids are like most other kids their age, their parents, unbeknownst to them or anyone else, are serial killers. They didn’t mean to become killers. In fact, they sort of accidentally fell into it, and then realized the thrill of it was something they wanted to continue together, as a team. Until someone is betrayed.

This psychological thriller is just okay. The storyline was not logical or believable. The concept is clever with many twists. Millicent and her husband's extracurricular activities did not ring true. I found the teenage son irritating. This book just wasn't for me.

This is a difficult book to review without spoilers! I tore through this book in one day, completely unable to put it down. From the first chapter, there was something unsettling about the narrator and his marriage, and the story only became more gripping as it progressed. I picked up on small details that the narrator was unaware of, which felt very intentional on the author's part and made for even more drama as I watched the story unfold. What I found most interesting about this novel was my own perception of the narrator; while I knew he was involved in terrible things and was a deeply flawed character, I found myself unintentionally rooting for him. Just as things were beginning to settle down in the last few chapters, the final paragraphs threw me for another loop. This was a truly riveting story and one that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in thrillers.

I TRULY dread writing reviews for books I don't particularly like, so Ive put off writing this for a minute now. I honestly was intrigued by the description, but I could not even get through this novel. I found it extremely difficult to relate to the characters, and was pretty put off by their "hobby"of killing seemingly random women. I would have probably liked the story a bit better if the people they were killing were actually horrible human beings, but no..... I just couldn't with this book. I didn't finish it, so I do not intend to give a review anywhere other than here, and I also do not forsee myself recommending this book to others.

I finished this book because I knew there was going to be a twist at the end, and I wanted to see of it was going to redeem itself. It did not. The problem is that the husband and wife are not sympathetic characters at any point in time. The husband is supposed to be the one you relate to, but he's a cheating, smarmy jerk. The wife is inscrutable, which works to keep you guessing what her deal is, but when the deal is revealed it is ultimately so unsatisfying that it makes you angry.

*Begin Spoilers* Yes, they are murderers, but they are not vigilantes. The basic premise is that they kind of unintentionally kill a couple of people and get a taste for it is completely undercut by the premise that the wife was abused as a child. If the couple were hunting and killing abusers, then sure, everybody understands vigilante justice even if they don't approve of it.. But they are hunting innocent women. I kept reading because I was thinking that there would be some explanation beyond the two of them thinking it's sexy and spices up their marriage. The people you really end up feeling bad for are their poor children. Everyone else is terrible and you don't care what happens to them.

How do I even begin reviewing this one? First off, thanks to NetGalley for approving me to read this ahead of its release date. It's my first and I have been so excited about it. Next, My Lovely Wife is a great title but I think it could also have been Parenting Tips from Serial Killers. Just saying! I had a few plausibility issues with it at first but then in the Christmas spirit I let go and just enjoyed the ride.

Millicent and her husband have an intriguing marriage and are devoted parents. They just enjoy killing people to keep things fresh. Okaaay. It took until almost halfway through the book to find out how this all began for them. Not really first date material, right? Once things get started, you realize how very dysfunctional they are but are quite impressed by how they are able to keep up such respectable appearances. Thereafter, you realize one might be more culpable than the other, but why? Just keep reading... it all unfolds very satisfyingly. Right until the very last page!! Loved it and am looking forward to more from Ms. Downing.

Oooh what a creepy book! I flew through this one because it's the kind of book you just can't put down... Even if it enters your nightmares while you're trying to sleep! It definitely has a Dexter feel to it and creeped me out on the same level as Dexter did. Beware...

It's tough to share too many details without spoiling anything, but basically, it's about a husband and wife who are loving parents, professionals, etc. who also share a very disturbing hobby. The scary thing is that the longer you read, the more "normal" their hobby seems to the point that you may freak yourself out by not being more disturbed by it. You might also freak yourself out by who you find yourself rooting for in the book (at least I did!).

There were a few things in the book I didn't find totally realistic (I mean, I hope the whole premise isn't realistic enough to actually happen, but I mean more within the realm of this world) and the ending felt a bit rushed to me. But overall, I have to give Samantha Downing a ton of credit for coming up with this crazy idea for a book and executing it in such a fabulous way. But man, I still feel pretty icky about it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This book missed the mark for me. I wasn’t impressed by the plot, and honestly it took me weeks to get through it. If you like manipulation, lies, drama, murder and betrayal, this is the book for you.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting novel about a husband and wife serial killer duo. It is hard to decide which one is more evil. The ending leads to even more confusion.

This excellent novel of suspense chronicles the courtship and marriage, hopes and dreams of a married couple. They seem to have the perfect life, including some mutually enjoyable pursuits of an unusual nature. Told entirely from the perspective of the husband, you won't believe what they really get up to. This is page-turning suspense at its finest.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
4.5

A twisty, sick ride. What does a couple do after hitting the midlife plateau? It depends on how depraved they’re willing to get. “Tobias” introduces himself first, walking us through a long-standing con that his wife, Millicent, may or may not know the full extent of. From here, we learn the minutiae of their lives, their children, their community. How sick they might be takes longer to through.


Looking forward to more from this author.

This book was not for me. I found their marriage completely unrelatable and I was put off by their objective.

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this twisted, creepy, fantastic thriller!
I can't believe this is a debut novel, or that the author looks so sweet and innocent in her author photo since she obviously has a very warped, twisted mind! :)
This thriller is told by Millicent's husband who unveils their unusual marriage and what they decide to do to spice it up. It goes way beyond what any "normal" couple might think of to keep their marriage interesting! Both husband and wife have very low moral standards yet seem to be very caring parents. All the characters are well written and easy to keep track of.
This is a quick read, one I looked forward to treating myself to every night, disappointed when it ended yet very interested to see how the author was going to end this perverse story. Excellent job, all the way through. A thriller I will be recommending (and thinking about) often!

When a new book is being described as Dexter meets. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I was immediately interested in getting my hands on this novel. Wow what a fun book filled with everything I love in a good thriller – twisted characters and a deeply disturbing subject. I was super entertained throughout the entire novel. Must read If you are looking for a fast pace thriller that will make you cringe and at times laugh out loud.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What starts off as a “Dexter-like” serial killer book with a focus on unintended consequences slowly morphs into something deeper. Full of twists and red herrings this thriller is hard to put down! It leaves the reader wondering where the plot is headed till the very end. A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a couple of evenings!

WOW!
An up and coming couple, tennis teacher father, real estate mother, 2 kids , good neighborhood, what could be more All-American? Nothing except that this couple has a secret...
Told from the perspective of the doting husband who thinks their little secret is just to spice life up a little bit. Little does he know, Millicent his lovely wife is way ahead of him and embarking out on her own.
A fascinating web of a novel with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and a dark twisted undertone that makes you wonder, how well do we know our friends, spouses or even the neighbor next door? I highly recommend for all suspense readers!

I was intrigued by the title and not disappointed. A seemingly normal couple in an upscale neighborhood are living the American dream, except they are serial killers. I liked the fast pace of the book and all the characters are likeable while being flawed. The book is creepy without being gory. Not a go to genre for me but I think it will appeal to suspense readers.

I love Thrillers but I just couldn’t get into this one. The writing is great it does keep you interested in the the story. I just didn’t like any of the characters! This one was just not for me.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.

My Lovely Wife will be available March 26, 2019.

Well, this story was delightfully messed up. My Lovely Wife is compulsively readable with an anti-hero you know you shouldn’t root for, but still do.

This was definitely a fun variation on the serial killer novel. Here the killers are a husband and wife team, though they’re a little lacking on the team aspect. They both have secrets from each other and at various times throughout the story you will be trying to figure out just which one is more sinister. While I did think a lot of things were pretty obvious and was not really surprised with how it all ended up, it did have a couple of nice little reveals throughout that kept me on my toes.

One thing I thought was kind of odd is that we are never told the husband’s name. The story is told through his first person POV and I honestly didn’t even notice his real name was never mentioned until I sat down to write this review and couldn’t remember it. This is not the first book I’ve come across that doesn’t share the main character’s name and I have to admit that I just don’t understand what the impact is supposed to be? Maybe it’s supposed to make me identify more with the character?

Overall, I enjoyed My Lovely Wife. This is one of those books where I don’t feel like I can share too much more than I already have without really starting to give things away. I liked the main character, even though he was very messed up and I knew I shouldn’t. He still managed to be just empathetic enough that I could almost overlook the bad things he’s done. I liked the focus on the family and how the parents’ actions were impacting their children. While the mystery may not shock seasoned readers of the genre, I think the compulsive writing and interesting characters will still make this an enjoyable read.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars

First, let me say that this is a thriller that kept me turning the pages. The story is compelling and drew me in from the start. That being said, much of the plot and actions of the characters seemed to me to be unrealistic. Thus, if you are looking for a tightly woven plot and believability, you might not enjoy this book. If you are willing to just go along for a crazy ride, though, this is an enjoyable read.