This is an amazing thriller!! I have never read anything like!! If you like psychological thrillers -- you will absolutely love this book!! I couldn't believe this is Samantha's debut novel. There is hardly anything you can say about it that isn't a giveaway. Read this book and enjoy the ride!!

this book was AWESOME. I read a similar book last year about attorneys who plot to pull off the perfect murder and they were so badly written and made huge dumb mistakes. This book was what I was hoping that book would have been. The characters are so sharp and interesting and flawed and evil, and I loved their thought process behind trying to execute the perfect murder. I also loved that their children were personally affected by their behavior. It kinda reminded me of THE AMERICANS. For sure one of my favorite books so far in 2019. Huge recommendation. Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy!

First of all, I’m a Dexter fan and there is no comparison between this story and Dexter (well, except for killing people). But, Dexter only killed bad people and this couple just liked to kill anyone for. . .fun? The first two-thirds of the book wasn’t that exciting, basically just about an awful, unlikable couple in an ordinary, unexciting marriage. Then, to supposedly spice things up, they start committing atrocious murders. It got better towards the end when a big twist was revealed. The ending was neatly (and sadly) wrapped up. I was just left feeling sorry for the kids.

Thanks to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review

Prior to picking this one up, I had heard a lot of amazing things and had seen some glowing reviews. Well, I always try to go into those books with an open mind and not set expectations too high. I completely understand the hype. I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing was a 100% binge read for me and I read it in an evening.

We meet a happily married couple that have been married for 15 years and have two kids. They have steady jobs and live in a nice area – sounds like the picture perfect family. But, come on, we all know things aren’t always as they seem. We see solely through the eyes of the husband and the author slowly feeds us little bits of information and background as the story progresses. When comparing this to Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith, they were spot on! I don’t want to give away much more because it’s best to go into this one knowing nothing more than the synopsis.

I loved the progression and the little reveals throughout, and make sure you read that epilogue! It was refreshing reading something from the perspective of the killers rather than the investigating detectives or police officers. I will always love getting into the minds of the killers and seeing what makes them tick. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, then I highly recommend picking this one up! Make sure you clear your schedule though because you won’t want to stop. I can’t wait to see what Downing comes out with next.

What a great premise for a mystery novel. A very likable husband-wife serial killing team... although naturally not everything is as it seems. Kept me reading late into the night. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Jeff Lindsay's Dexter series.

This book is narrated by Millicent's husband whose name hasn't mentioned in the book. He is a tennis coach and she is a real estate agent. They are living in the suburb with their two teenage children. They eat dinner together and have movie nights. A happily married couple. A perfect family. What could go wrong? Well, you have to read the book for you to know.

This book grabbed my full attention right from the beginning. The chapters are short and end on cliffhangers which made this book addictive and a real page-turner. I thought it's clever to have the husband as the narrator. Sure I would love to know more about Millicent and read her thoughts but it was quite an interesting experience to see her through her husband's perspective. Both of them commit horrendous acts but it will still make the readers think who is really the evil one.

Instead of focusing on bloody and gruesome details, the author gives us shocking twists and turns and disturbing yer satisfying ending which makes this a highly entertaining read.

My Lovely Wife is a very impressive debut novel. It's twisted, disturbing and clever. I'm looking forward on reading more of Samantha Downing's future works.

Five adjectives other than Lovely to describe My Lovely Wife: .

Histrionic- If you’re looking for something “next level” that pulls out all the bells and whistles, look no further. This one has it all: deception, psychosis, lust, and mind-games. And it’s all told from the perspective of the villain, who we can’t help but have a soft spot for because he’s just so likable.

Fecund- Sometimes thrillers can be tricky, especially psychological thrillers. Being able to create something inventive yet believable can be tough. Downing did this with ease. Not only did she write a completely original serial killer storyline, but she doubled the fun by making it a mom and pop show... literally, a mom and a pop. 😳

Voracious- This was one of those times where if the book were a bowl of ice cream, it would have been gone long before it started to melt- I inhaled this one. I didn’t think it would be possible to want to root for the underdog (who is also a killer) but it was. And I did. I read this with an insatiable thirst for more.

Mendacious- Oh the deception!! It hits you from all angles: main characters, secondary characters, the kin of the characters. Deception! Deception! Deception! I hated it, but holy cow I sure did love every breath of it. And the last sentence- wowza!!!!

Nefarious- A cross between the Wicked Witch of the West and Verity... My Lovely Wife is as wicked as they come.

So, you see, this is not a Lovely book. It is far from it. But I’ll tell you what this book is- it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I freaking loved it, even as I get the heebie- jeebies just thinking about it. .
.

After fifteen years and two kids, how far do you go to keep your marriage exciting? For Millicent and her (unnamed) husband, the world is filled with things they can’t do or afford. What they do have: family dinners, homework before TV, and twisted date nights to keep things interesting. When a missing woman turns up dead, has a serial killer returned, or is it, someone, closer to home? A dark and irresistible debut.

Thank you Berkley Pub for inviting me on the Blog Tour and gifting me an ARC in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 Stars.

Wow!! This book was FUN! Crazy, intense, and totally entertaining. It’s being compared to Dexter, which I’ve never watched. But if that show, is as good as this book, than maybe I need to tune in.

This is hard to review, because I cannot say too much or it spoils the plot. So I will say this, this book is one of those rare slow burn thrillers, that actually grasps your attention from the start, not gradually like other slow burners. This is twisted, and fun, and that last page… What a doozy! If you haven’t read this yet, get on it! I loved it, I loved them, and I wish I could read this again for the first time.

Satirical, dark, and funny!

Yes it’s a book about murder but not a scary way, more like a Serial Mom way.

Highly recommend for a quick treat!

Millicent and her husband appear to be the perfect couple. They have two children, successful careers, and reside in an exclusive, gated community. On the exterior they have a life that others envy. Behind closed doors the couple holds a secret that only they know. All marriages have secrets, but they don’t typically involve murder.

As the stakes in this marriage heighten and the danger becomes ever present, who will make it out clean?

That’s all the synopsis you get! Trust me when I tell you, you need to go in blindly to this book. Don’t have preconceived ideas, just let in the drama come to you!

MY LOVELY WIFE is an outstanding debut novel from Samantha Downing. She has officially made my must-buy list for whatever genius she creates next! As an avid reader in the crime fiction genre I have come to appreciate the stereotypes that are often found within the subgenre of domestic thrillers. Downing breaks that mold with two characters who the reader is instantly drawn to and left on the edge of their seat needing more details about their marriage. Is there unlikeability to the characters? Sure, but it’s not the main focus we often see.

The story is narrated by the husband in this couple, who comes off incredibly normal until you get to know him better. He has loved his wife, Millicent, since the very moment he laid eyes on her. It quickly becomes clear that he would do anything to make her happy and keep their marriage alive. Together, he and Millicent, have hatched what he thinks of as the perfect plan to do this. Fun fact: we never learn the husband’s real name! This is something that I almost completely missed, but leaves an excellent touch to the story and his character.

Despite always raving about how I love a multiple POV story, I’m still a huge fan of a single POV narration. This style is truly exemplified within these pages as the reader watches the story unfold through the husband’s eyes. You can feel all of his emotions running the full spectrum and an excellent sense of tension is built through this viewpoint. In addition to a sleek narration that keeps the story tense and the reader hooked, Downing also uses short chapters to keep the pace of the novel moving rapidly towards its conclusion. Despite not wanting this book to ever end, I couldn’t put it down!

MY LOVELY WIFE is packed to the brim with twists and revelations that will keep you thinking long after you set the book down! Seriously...if you’ve read it, can we talk about that ending?? Chills! If you haven’t read it, get going to a bookstore and snag a copy ASAP! This is going to be a thriller that everyone will be talking about this Spring and Summer!

Disclosure: Thank you to Berkley for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I started this book with doubts about both the main characters. Husband and wife, they just seemed odd. As I kept reading I realized how incredibly odd and scary they both were. While this could have been a stop, put this book down thought it was more of an Oh My Gosh, what are they going to do next?

I knew the other shoe was going to drop, I knew that there was going to be that moment when the story shifted, and I was so looking forward to it. When the story changed paths, I was let down. I needed more; I wanted a more climatic event then what happens. I needed it to be as dramatic as the rest of the story was and it just didn’t happen that way.

My Lovely Wife is a thriller, it is psychotic, and it is enthralling. I was pulled in and I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end. I needed to know that the children in the book are safe and that the right people were held responsible for what was happening.

They did it before and they are about to do it again. What looks like the absolute average family in Hidden Oaks – the father a tennis coach, the mother in real estates and two lovely kids – is all but average. They have a secret, or better: secrets in plural since they have killed more than one woman. And they are looking for their next victim. They are clever, a lot cleverer than all the other inhabitants of their small community and most certainly smarter than the police who don’t even know that somebody is missing. Yet, every run of luck has an ending and theirs is about to come, isn’t it?

Samantha Downing’s debut is a terrific thriller which combines the core emotions of human beings: love and hate. It’s masterly constructed and when you think you finally know what it all adds up to, you get a big surprise and a twist that takes suspense to another level.

First of all, the couple at the centre of the novel. The story is told from the husband’s point of view – interestingly, he never gets a name, there are only his aliases when he makes contact with possible victims. The point of view is limited of course which will play a major role and undeniably helps to lead you to wrong assumptions. As a reader, I should have known better, but I fell easily prey to Downing. At the beginning, you get the impression that the parents are a bit different, even strange to a certain extent, but even though you know that they have killed before, it doesn’t really keep you from seeing the loving father and mother who try to educate their children and deeply care for them. At some point, I even wished for them to get away with murder. Well, they are great in deceiving their environment and so is the reader.

An impressive psychological thriller which only reveals its full extent at the end of the novel and definitely makes you think about what you really know of the people around you and how easily you can be tricked and misled.

A bored couple picks up an unconventional new hobby after moving to the suburbs, murder. This is a book you will love but feel dirty afterwards.

WOW WOW WOW this book was CRAZY WILD!!!

Samantha Downing has constructed a highly addictive, deeply disturbing debut. This book was simply brilliant! Truly the next level of crazy! Mind blowing and mesmerizing, I could not put this book down! Such an absorbing read that will completely suck you in from that very first page! Oh how can a book that is so very wrong be so very right!?!?

This is the “love story” of a couple who has been married for 15 years... in order to spice things up in the relationship they plan the unthinkable. The couple appears to be completely normal on the outside. They are hard-working people who are active in their community. They have two lovely children who they shuffle around to soccer Games and golf tournaments. BUT this couple has date nights like no other! Not going to say any more than that about the plot, this is a book Best gone into with little knowledge.

I seriously savored every second of the story. This book is told from the husband‘s point of view, I found him a sympathetic character. I am really not sure what that says about me? I had to remind myself of some of his actions throughout this book, but still I have to admit I liked the guy. Wifey on the other hand was a cold hearted b*tch. The two of them together were A match made in cray cray land. Just writing this review is making me jealous of all of you that still have this crazy ride ahead of you! This book is going straight to my favorites shelf, I cannot imagine it will not make my top of 2019 list! Simply stellar! Absolutely 100% recommend!

*** many thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

A murdering couple attempt to stay ahead of the law while dealing with their own trust issues. There are a lot threads to pull in this psychological thriller, which is to say there were some major suspensions of disbelief. That said, I was interested to see how the couple would act and disturbed to see what they would do. Any fan of the thriller genre will enjoy this one.

Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for the early review copy! Now this is how you write a thriller! My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing was soo good. As a fan and avid reader of thrillers, I have to say that this has been one of my favorite thrillers that I have read. I made the "mistake" of starting this one before bed, and it kept me up until I finished it. It is totally binge-worthy, and it will have your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping! This one had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails. When I finished it at 1:00 in the morning, I was unable to sleep because my mind was still reeling from the story. Here's what I loved: 1.) Millicent, the wife, is a sociopath. She definitely gave me major "Jane Doe" vibes. 2.) Millicent and her husband seem like your typical suburban couple, but their relationship is anything but typical. 3.) So many twists and turns, with surprises at every turn! 4.) I was left saying, "OMG" right until the very end. Literally, the last line of the book had me wondering what was going to happen next. The last book that did this to me was No Exit. 5.) Did I mention that this is Downing's novel debut? I will, without a doubt, read her next book. Downing has proven herself to be a master writer in the genre, and this is one of those books that will stay with me. This is out tomorrow, and I highly recommend it if you love thrillers! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

This was insane!! I couldn't believe what I was reading, went through all the emotions, and had to know how this was going to end. It did NOT disappoint. I realized in writing this that the husband is not named, however, Millicent is clearly referenced throughout. I struggled with this because this couple had children, they were murderers, and the dad had a conscience (I think). But I think my struggle was intended by the author, and if so, it worked. You know this is going to fall apart, and by the time it does, I was just cringing with all the mistakes being made, but reminding myself they were literally killing people, so come ON man. Gahhhhhh.

The ending is perfection, and the epilogue is, well, killer! That is all I will say so I don't spoil anything further, but I really appreciated that this was such a different concept than what I have read lately, and it is a debut at that.

This releases on Tuesday, 3/26, and thriller fans need to add it to their list for sure. Just be prepared to stay up late to finish (and continually remind yourself to watch out for creeps)!!

Wholly original and unputdownable, this is the book everyone will be talking about this spring! I'm finding it hard to describe without giving away spoilers, so I will just say that the publisher's tagline of 'Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith' is spot on. Loved, loved, loved it in all its stabby, nail-biting glory!

My Lovely Wife had me hooked from the first chapter and the only reason I didn’t finish it in one sitting was to sleep. This thriller provided a different perspective than others on the market, the perspective of those behind the murders. I found myself not only on the edge of my seat, but also rooting for the villains of the story to get away with murder. My Lovely Wife started out as the most twisted love story ever, but evolved into so much more than that. Trust me thriller fans, this is a book that you won’t want to miss.

The writing was absolutely addictive. Details of family life were shared, making a couple who bonded over murder absolutely human and likable. These are characters that you would root against in any other scenario, but the way this story was told you can’t help but relate to these twisted characters. The pacing never slowed down and there were no unnecessary details. You can’t help but fly through this story and be left in awe of the writing and plotting.

The main character is never referred to by his name, only as Dad or the husband of Millicent. I found myself wondering the implications of this after reading and I think it helped me as a reader see him as a husband and a father rather than a murderer. In contrast I could see Millicent as cold or cruel, but I found myself sympathetic to the father in the story. It both keeps you at a distance and makes him relatable at the same time.

Luckily the blurb gives very little about the plot away and neither will I, this is a story that is best read when it is allowed to unfold naturally. This thriller managed to stand out in a genre full of novels trying to grab your attention. My Lovely Wife was a sadistic love story wrapped in the packaging of a psychological thriller. I loved every second of reading and as a critical reader I can’t come up with any aspect that I didn’t love. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the mystery or thriller genre.