This was a great book. A family with wealth, but a mother who feels her children shouldn't be given everything they want, even as adults. When you hear Diana's story you know why she doesn't want her children to be handed everything. However, the outcome is a real surprise. I highly recommend. .Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for the ARC to review.

4 1/2 stars

Losing her mother to cancer early in life Lucy was very excited to marry into Ollie’s family and envisioned a beautiful relationship with her mother-in-law Diana but her hopes were quickly dashed. Their relationship was polite at best. When Diana was found dead with a suicide note family secrets are revealed and things don't seem to add up. Was Diana really that evil person Lucy always assumed her to be or was there another side to the
story ?

The Mother-in-law by Sally Hepworth told by two Pov’s alternates between the past and the present. A unique perspective with fascinating characters along with an entertaining plot makes it a thought provoking read that I would definitely recommend.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

The Mother-in-Law was a great book. This murder mystery mixed with complex family relationships, was a page turner. I loved the personalities and the many variations of love, appreciation, parenting, misunderstandings, and upbringings. Had a surprising and satisfying ending. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

The story opens with Lucy and her husband Ollie being informed of the death of her mother-in-law Diana. Initially believed to be a suicide, but now being investigated as a possible murder.
Then it goes back ten years to Lucy first meeting Ollie's parents. She overhears Diana telling Ollie that she thinks Lucy is "fine". After discovering the underwhelming impression she made on her soon to be mother-in-law, Lucy strives for acceptance. Having lost her mother at a young age, she had hoped for a close relationship with Ollie's.
Unfortunately the two seemed to always be misunderstanding each other.
Because of some traumatic events in her past, Diana has a difficult time expressing herself and comes across as cold and aloof. She wishes her children to be independent and strong, so she doesn't give them money or affection easily.
Her own daughter Nettie has struggled with infertility for years, yet Diana refuses to help subsidize the expensive fertility treatments.
The book alternates between past and present point of views between Lucy and Diana.
This is a gripping, compelling tale. Equal parts mystery, domestic drama and slow burn thriller. I was captivated by the writing and could not wait to find out what really happened to Diana. She is a great, complex character who is very misunderstood. Seeming so austere, but teeming with emotions below the surface.
I was so impressed with my first book by Sally Hepworth, looking forward to reading more by her!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honesst review.

Though suspense is a factor in The Mother In Law, it really didnt seem to drive the novel. Ms Hepworth excels in the realm of character portraiture. TMiL is told in alternating voices from the daughter in law and the mother in law. Each is a complex, clear voiced character, and though at times unlikable, still riveting. I appreciated that Ms Hepworth was able to take characters I was unable to connect with and make them compelling enough for me to care about the outcome of the story. The pacing is even, the settings detailed, and I will definitely read more from Sally Hepworth.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth is a suspenseful family drama. Ollie and Lucy have fallen in love and Lucy is about to meet her future mother-in-law Diana. To say that Diana is aloof and indifferent is an understatement. Each chapter alternates between Diana and Lucy, in the past and in the present, as their relationship changes over the years. Until Diana is found dead in her home, and the authorities have difficulty establishing if her death was a suicide or a murder. A suicide note is found hidden in a drawer and not close to the body. Her lawyer notifies her family that she has disinherited them and left her substantial fortune to a favorite charity. What could have happened to Diana? This novel deals with mother-in-law issues that many of us have encountered and therefore it hits home. The suspense is successfully maintained throughout and the characters are interesting. This is an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Domestic suspense/thrillers appeal to me any day of the week. I can relate to them in some way or another. The Mother-in-Law is no exception. I've heard horror stories from my friends about their mother-in-laws!

Told in past and present between the mother-in-law Diana, daughter-in-law Lucy, and Diana's daughter Nettie. This type of narrative works really well and keeps the pace flowing.

Diana has always been tough when it came to instilling work ethic and the value of a dollar to her children and doesn't soften for any reason. A bit of a hard ass you could say. She isn't a very friendly person and is condescending especially to Nettie and Lucy. Imagine Lucy's shock and disappointment when meeting Diana and being part of a family where the mother-in-law doesn't seem to like her, but over time there is no love lost on her end either. The reason I liked the past and present in this novel is because it gave insight to why Diana is so unrelenting and I saw a different side of her.

Suddenly Diana turns up dead. Suicide? Murder? Accident? Family tension is stressful.

This is a twisty mystery that shouldn't be missed.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy.

I quite enjoyed this book! I anticipated the stereotypical relationship between MIL and DIL,but this book takes it to a different level. I will definitely look for more from this author.

I could not get into this book, sorry. It felt stiff and boring. I will not review it. Thanks anyway, though.

This novel is truly amazing. The interpersonal relationships are detailed and vivid. The characters are extremely realistic and relatable. The plot is unique and the treatment of common situations in unconventional and unexpected ways is terrific. To me, the best part, is the exploration of pre-conceived notions of how one should feel and act, and how through time, shared experiences and personal growth, that changes and evolves. I loved it so much I will give a copy to my mother-in-law.

When Lucy first meets her soon-to-be mother-in-law Diana, she knows right away that Diana is not who she wants her son to marry. Diana is crass, rude, and sometime just plain nasty. Lucy's fiancee and then husband Ollie tells her not to worry about it, that his mother likes her just fine. But this family is full of lies and deceit. Diana refuses to help her children financially, even though they ask every chance they get. She spends more time with the refugees she helps than her own family. And she still seems to hate Lucy for no reason. The Mother-in-Law was so good and such a fast read, that I took it with me everywhere I went and finished it in a day! I cannot wait to read more by Sally Hepworth!

Sally Hepworth writes such compulsively readable stories. This is my second Hepworth and her writing was equally as engaging. This is definitely not a thriller....but is more in the domestic drama/mystery genre. Her writing style and storylines definitely remind me of Liane Moriarty. Both write such full, complete individual characters and family/relationship dynamics. I think I enjoyed The Family Next Door just a smidge better because I personally connected to that story more than this story (thankful I love my Mother-in-law). but that's personal preference. I will definitely read more from this author!

The Mother-In-Law was not what I was expecting, but in the best way possible. While the story does include the complications that can come from a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law relationship the scope was expanded to include other family dynamics as well. We soon discover that Diana (the MIL) is dead the cause of her death is inconclusive. Was Diana murdered or did she commit suicide?

I really enjoyed reading the POV from Lucy (daughter-in-law) and Diana exploring their relationship and why Diana came to be the person she was.

I have to say I was honestly shocked at that ending and that always elevates a book for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my ARC.

The hype about this book is real! You need to go in blindly on this one because it will take your head through a whirlwind of a trip! Who doesn’t love a good domestic suspense about a mother-in-law?! I thought this was better than “The Other Woman” which I feel like most people are going to walk into this one thinking it may have a similar plot. Not the case! The multiple point of views made this book so much better! Loved it! This book was well worth the wait! It even made me want to re-read her previous novels!

Lucy loves Ollie and is looking forward to spending the rest of her life with him. She loves him, he loves her, her father agrees, and his father agrees. But his mother . . . well, that’s another story.

Lucy lost her own mother when she was young, so she was looking forward to forging a strong relationship with her mother-in-law, but Diana does not make that easy. Although Diana’s husband Tom is thrilled about his son’s choice of a wife, and Ollie’s sister and her husband all love Lucy, Lucy still wants the approval of her future mother-in-law, despite her coldness.

Lucy and Ollie do get married and go on to have three great kids. And while Diana may not be much of a mother to Lucy, she is a devoted grandmother, and Lucy does appreciate her for that. But when police show up at the door of Lucy and Ollie’s house to tell them that Diana has died, there are far more questions than answers.

Sally Hepworth’s The Mother-in-Law is a story told through layers and layers of family relationships. With alternating chapters of the present and the past, of Lucy’s and then Diana’s point of view, this moving novel of family, wealth, love, devotion, and honor will take you on a most surprising and rewarding journey. The Mother-in-Law is a beautifully written story about the choices that women make, the consequences that those choices have, and the character that is formed through those choices.

I love a well-written book, and this certainly fits that bill. But this novel turned out to be so much more. This was a really powerful look at our perceptions of others and how they can be wrong. These women’s stories are all our stories. Their struggles are our struggles. And reading stories like these make us better as friends, better as daughters, and better as women. Thank you, Sally Hepworth, for your honesty, intelligence, and warmth as you tell our stories as daughters and mothers.

Galleys for The Mother-in-Law were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I started this not thinking I would love it. Wow, I was hooked instantly and finished it in two days (only because I paced myself) One of the best books I have read all year.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Its incredible.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this is my first novel by this author and it won't be my last

i really really enjoyed it and it was NOT exactly what i expected that's a good thing

a bit more of a character study driven domestic mystery- it's riveting and i was glued to the pages

smartly written and again - not what i expected, especially the hint of the sarcastic and heartbreak - HUGE FAN- buy this book

lastly i think this would appeal to fans of Sandie Jones Lisa Jewell and Liz Nugent

I loved this thriller from start to finish. It held my attention and had me wanting more. It was well developed with likable characters. Even the characters you love to hate were likable in their rolls. The whodunnit was great and it left me feeling like I never wanted it to end. Lots of great books but this one is exceptional. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a copy of this book.

The beginning of this book quickly prompted me to text my daughter-in-law and tell her what an amazing mother and wife she is, I thought I had it figured out already. This is a mystery, family disputes,& psychological thriller, in line with Big Little Lies. Lots of characters and family dynamics going on here. The mother-in-law, Dianna ends up dead at the very beginning and the story goes back and forth until the truth is revealed, I lost. But, it was so much more. The relationship between the mother and daughter-in-law was complex and hearing what each person was "really" thinking, brought light to the old saying, never judge a book by its cover. I think you'll like this one friends.

LOVED this book! Kept me guessing and entertained. There is a shift between past and present in the storytelling, but it was done so well that it wasn’t confusing at all. Family drama at its finest!