Happy Publication Day to Sally Hepworth for The Mother-in-Law! Oh, how I loved this incredible family drama. I’m quickly learning that family dramas are my jam. I’m instantly drawn to them and I just can’t get enough! This is why I love Hepworth’s writing so much. In my opinion, she is the queen of family dramas! The novel begins with the most hilarious dedication:
“For my mother-in-law, Anne, who I’ve never thought about murdering. And for my father-in-law, Peter, who, on the odd occasion, I have.”
This was perfect. I immediately knew that I was going to enjoy this story. And I absolutely did. Without giving too much away, I’ll tell you that the story begins with news that Lucy’s mother-in-law, Diana is dead. How did this happen? Suicide? Murder? The reader goes on a wild and crazy ride, flowing from past to present as we learn about this family’s history. I was blaming pretty much each and every family member throughout the entire novel. The best part? I was completely WRONG in the end. So wrong. Not even close. That is why this book gets all the stars from me!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this e-galley in exchange for my honest review. The Mother-in-Law is available today! You must read this book. Trust me! 5/5 stars for The Mother-in-Law!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

It has already been said, but I will say it again, The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth is not your typical mystery / mother-in-law story. I cried like a baby multiple times during this book and it has a lot more depth than I was expecting it to have.

What it's about: All Lucy has ever wanted was her mother-in-law Diana's approval, but Diana has always seemed distant, and they never got as close as Lucy would have liked. Now 10 year's later, Diana has been found dead with a suicide note. But did she commit suicide or did someone murder her? Evidence of suffocation points to murder. Diana and her husband Tom were very rich, and everyone in the family has something to hide . . .

So I went into this book thinking it was just going to be about Diana's death and boy was I wrong! The timelines switch from past and present, mostly between Diana and Lucy's perspectives. The way Hepworth was able to craft the two storylines and eventually bring them together just totally blew me away. There is so much emotion in The Mother-in-Law that I highly recommend keeping a box of tissues close by. I know I am not going to be the only one moved to tears by this story.

I read The Family Next Door by Hepworth last year, and while I really enjoyed it and gave it a 4/5, it didn't get to me near as much as The Mother-in-Law did. I think she really outdid herself this time and this book deserves ALL the stars.

Final Thought: The Mother-in-Law was so good that I didn't want to put it down. It was a quick read as well and one that I managed to read in just under 4.5 hours so I think a lot of people would be able to read it in one sitting. There is a lot of focus on the story here and not just the mystery surrounding Diana's death which I think is important to know. The story is about the characters and how everything made it to this point. I would recommend this book to fans of family drama's that involve a mystery, and people that like a lot of depth to their mysteries. I will be waiting [quite] impatiently for this author's next book!

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

So lately there seems to be many "mother-in-law" books that have overtaken the psychological thriller genre. Some more successful than others. However, Sally Hepworth does something different here. Most definitely it wasn't what I was expecting. This is NOT a psychological thriller but there is a mystery to solve.

Lucie and Ollie meet and fall in love. Ollie decides it's time for Lucie to meet his parents and Lucie wants nothing more than to impress them. Having lost her own mother at a young age she is eager to have a mother-in-law to turn to for advice and friendship. Once she meets Diana she finds out that their relationship is going to be anything but friendly when she receives Diana's frosty, at best, reception. Lucie is at a loss as to how to win this woman over.

Fast forward 5 years and the unthinkable happens. Diana has been found dead by apparent suicide but was it really suicide? You'll have to read it to find out.

I enjoyed the heck out of this book and had trouble putting it down. It was just so compulsively readable. Why this book differs from those other mother-in-law books is that both of the women are likable people and only want whats best for those they love. I especially adored Diana. This book was a perfect example of miscommunication between people. That sometimes the things we don't say actually say more than we think. A reminder as to why we should tell the people we love how we feel about them more often. Let people know that you appreciate them. I'm going to try to do that more in my own life because, let's face it, we are only here a brief time and we really do need to make the best of it.

"I worked hard for everything I ever cared about. And nothing that I have ever cared about cost a single cent."

That quote says it all. 💖

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Summary:

Lucy is a young mother with a complicated relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana, who is extremely introverted and possibly perceived as snobby. Diana is very wealthy and heads an organization that helps young refugees in Australia that are pregnant. Diana's children often are angered by how much help she gives to these poor women.

At the beginning of the novel, the police come to Lucy and Ollie's home to inform them that Diana is dead and has left a suicide note.

Through variations of narrators and time periods, we find that things are what they seem in this secretive family.

My Thoughts:

Sally Hepworth is an author that I have relied on for books that I know I will love. She did not let me down again!

I would characterize this as a domestic drama. I wouldn't necessarily call it a thriller as I have seen other reviewers refer to it.

I love how well Hepworth creates her characters. She writes very well and creates intricate traits and characterizations for the readers about each character.

I highly recommend this book that I received early from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I got to read this amazing book on vacation in Hollywood, Fl! 



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The Mother-in-Law releases today and thanks to St. Martin's press I was given an advanced copy. I read this book over the space of a couple of days and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Told in present day, the past and some snippets of the very past the author weaved a story about relationships. Beginning with the death of Diana the author went back to the beginning of the relationship between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, Lucy and Diana. It was a weird relationship and seeing it from both points of view gives a clear picture of what happened. How different everything could be if we just walked in other people's shoes for a bit and knew their true stories.

This is a great read that kept me captivated and as the story unfolded I found myself enjoying a storyline that was unique, authentic and believable.

The Mother-in-Law is the story of relationships, it was not just between daughter in law and mother-in-law but also mother and daughter, husband and wife as well as siblings. It’s about discovering who you are, purpose and who you can count on.

The ending was perfect and well....yeah I guess I should stop there. Definitely a book and author I recommend.

When Lucy first met Ollie’s family 10 years ago, she was impressed by their large and lovely home. Ollie’s father, Tom, was very welcoming of her, as well as Ollie’s sister, Nettie, and her husband, Patrick. They all gave her hugs except for Ollie’s mother, Diana, who simply shook her hand. Now, Lucy and Ollie are parents to Archie, 7, Harriet, 4, and Edie, 2.

Over the years of Lucy and Ollie’s marriage, Lucy and Diana have had a rather strained relationship and have never truly bonded. But Diana has helped Lucy here and there with the children when she has needed it.

Diana is very involved in a charity that she started some years ago. She helps immigrants by providing clothes, helping them get housing and jobs too. They are quite grateful to her. Ironically, she has always insisted that her own children stand on their own two feet with no handouts.

The police arrive one day to tell Lucy and Ollie that Diana has been found dead and it’s a suspected suicide. But, is it?

The story switches back and forth in time and we see Diana and her relationship with her parents in the early days and then in the present. Diana’s own youth had been a very tough time for her which had made her the woman that she is. We see each of the characters and how they interact with Diana and we wonder if she is a cold person or just misunderstood. So, how did she die?

This book is well written and I’m readers will jump on it to see if it’s true that the poor, maligned mother-in-law image is really true. As a MIL myself, I was eager to see how the author wrote the story and I must say I loved it. I’m interested to see what readers think of Diana in her role of mother-in-law.

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

What an awesome and amazing , filled with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing from beginning to end. It's a strong plot with three dimensional characters that stay with you long after the last page. Absolutely pick up this winner of a book and prepare to be enthralled. Make sure that you have plenty of time to dedicate to this book because once you pick it up you won't put it down. Happy reading!

Thanks @Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was the first book i have read by this author, and it won't be my last. This book was fantastic! A clever, unique, and very well written psychological thriller, that kept me on the edge of my seat..
I think as women, we can all relate about the relationships with our Mother in Law. Some good, some not so good, but on a typical night, this mother in law, Diana, comes up dead, from what was first ruled a suicide, but that all changed.
The book is very surprising, and over all a good book, that will be hard to put down!!Thanks @Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was the first book i have read by this author, and it won't be my last. This book was fantastic! A clever, unique, and very well written domestic psychological thriller, that kept me on the edge of my seat..
I think as women, we can all relate about the relationships with our Mother in Law. Some good, some not so good, but on a typical night, this mother in law, Diana, comes up dead, from what was first ruled a suicide, but that all changed. And the family is left wondering is someone in the family guilty?
The book is very surprising, and over all a good book, that will be hard to put down!! The book is written with twists, that really make one see that things aren’t always what they seem! Clever!

Have you ever read a book and wanted to start it all over again, but read it for the first time again! That was the case for me with this book. The twists and turns and characters were just so good that I wanted to read it again, but have the first time experience again.

Lucy is a daughter in law, mother and wife and with the chapters from her point of view she can't understand why her mother-in-law treats her the way she does. Diana is the mother-in-law and has had quite the list of life experiences and since she hasn't shared everything with her family the way she acts may seem strange and offputting. I loved the dynamic of these two with the mystery of who killed Diana from the beginning, this book just worked so well.

I always judge a thriller by the ending and of course I will not spoil this one, but I will say that I loved it. The twists and turns were perfectly timed and I didn't predict the ending until it was right upon me and I love that feeling.

I have read two out of the four current Sally Hepworth books and after finishing this one, I am going to move the other two up to the top of my TBR pile.

The Mother-In-Law is an incredible and heartbreaking book about family and misunderstanding and the strength of love. I was expecting a book about an evil mother-in-law. This is not, and the result is so much more powerful of a book. I really admired the lead character, Lucy. But even with all the differences between her and her mother-in-law (and trust me, there were plenty), I also really liked the mother-in-law Diana. The story takes place starting when Diana is found dead of apparent suicide. And then it goes between the present, and how Lucy and her family is dealing with the death, and the past starting from the very beginning when Lucy first met her mother-in-law. This is definitely one of those books that sticks with you the day after you’ve completed it.

"The Mother-in-Law" by Sally Hepworth

My first time reading that author.

3.5 stars.
I liked it but it's not my favorite book this year. It's not at all what I thought it would be. I thought it would have been more thriller. It's mainly about family drama, complicated relationships... A bit slow.

It is well written, interesting story, good characters. Just not the "Oh no, no way!" moment you get reading a thriller/crime/mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a compelling, twisty read based on perhaps the most complicated relationship, in-laws. I had never read a Sally Hepworth book but I will definitely be reading more. This story is told through Lucy and Diana's points of view, in both the past and the present which produces a wonderful unfurling of the story and these women's lives. The characters are multidimensional -- especially Diana who I am still trying to figure out! The novel moves along quickly -- I got sucked into this book and finished it in two days. While I wouldn't classify this book as a thriller, I would definitely call it a fascinating domestic mystery. If you enjoy difficult, complicated family relationships (at least in a novel), this book is for you!

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author, Sally Hepworth for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars!

When Diana, Lucy's mother in law, is found dead in her house of suspected suicide, Lucy experiences a strange bunch of emotions. Her personal relationship with Diana has always been volatile, while Diana still gives off this perfect image to everyone else. They quickly find out that this wasn't actually suicide, but murder. Who would actually want Diana dead?
This book was an enjoyable read. My attention was drawn in due to the story & the complicated relationships between family members. I felt bad for Diana, though. The book being written in different perspectives (Diana's and Lucy's in the past & present) helped you to understand that there truly are two sides to every story. Diana had so many good intentions, but wasn't good at executing it, leading to a lot of misunderstanding. I liked that I didn't see the end coming, and appreciated with how it all wrapped up in a nice little bow.

At its core, The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth is a simple story about simple people: Lucy and her mother-in-law Diana. What unfolds is a complex story about how familial relationships are built and borne, and how they change over time.

Hepworth writes of an Australian woman named Lucy who marries into a traditional family. Her husband, Ollie, is the hardworking son of a hardworking couple, Tom and Diana. His sister Nettie and her husband Patrick complete the family.

Over the years, Lucy and Ollie have children, change careers, and grow into their own family unit while the shadow of Diana casts a pallor over them.

The plot is pretty straightforward, and pretty true to the ‘evil mother-in-law’ form: Lucy and Diana do not get along in the way that mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law often do. Through a series of vignettes, we see how their relationship was doomed from the start – how Lucy tries too hard to impress Diana at their first meeting; how Diana accidentally insults Lucy while she’s shopping for a wedding dress; and how the two rarely see eye-to-eye on how to raise their children.

Hepworth throws a wrench into the story when we find out that Diana has died. She left a suicide note, but there’s evidence that she suffocated. Of course, because we know the relationship was flawed – and because her husband, her sister-in-law and her husband all immediately turn toward her when the police tell them – we’re automatically supposed to believe it was Lucy.

As Hepworth unveils the story, we find out that everyone had a motive to murder Diana. Though she paints herself as the ideal mother, a pillar of society, and the head of a charity that supports refugees, in private, Diana was a complicated woman because of what life has done to her and how she responded to its every twist and turn.

She’s a proud woman who hates to waste money. Ollie needs a loan for his business.

She’s a proud mother who prides herself on the way she raised her children to be self-sufficient and to help themselves. Nettie is struggling with fertility issues and Patrick isn’t exactly trustworthy.

She believes that her way is the best way, because her road was tougher and she was forced to grow up quicker. Lucy constantly feels like she’s being invalidated as a wife and mother because she never measures up to Diana’s standards.

She turned her life into one of service to others. When she’s filled that purpose and it doesn’t prove useful anymore, she contemplates ending it all. Did she commit suicide after all?

When I first read the blurb for The Mother-in-Law, I thought it would be pretty cut and dry. I thought for sure that Lucy had killed Diana, and that we’d spend the story figuring out which barb pushed her into committing the crime.

I expected one-dimensional characters who fit neat tropes, but in almost every case, the characters were complex. At times I agreed with Lucy; at times I thought Diana was right. By the time I got to the end, I saw all the characters in a different light.

I think one of Hepworth’s triumphs with The Mother-in-Law is to highlight the fact that who we are in public may not be who we are in private. Sometimes we bend, sometimes we break, sometimes we change and sometimes we stay the same, but ultimately, we all have layers that need to be pushed back to find out who we truly are.

The Mother-in-Law is a quick read, but if you’re like me, you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve found out how it all plays out.

*I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

My, my, my, what a hidden gem this was! When I first heard of this book, called The Mother-In-Law, which is in the category of Mystery / Thriller, I admit that I started to form an opinion of what this was probably about… Well I was completely wrong, and in a good way.

Lucy lost her mother at a young age, and is desperately trying to please Diana, her future mother-in-law. The fact that she does not succeed is not a surprise. However, Diana turns up dead, with a suicide note, but then suspicions immediately arise that this might not have been a suicide, and pretty much anyone could be to blame.

The book switches between present day and the past, and is told from both Lucy’s and Diana’s POV. What is so great about this is that by providing Diana’s perspective, we learn where she is coming from and why she does the things that she does, and why Lucy’s assumptions about Diana are mostly incorrect.

As I was becoming attached to these characters, Hepworth does not let us forget there is a murder to be solved. And just as I started to think that I knew what had happened, then no, wait, there is a twist, then nope, another one, wait, oh no no no, NOOO!! Oh man, that was rude. But well done Hepworth, well done. But still rude.

This was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for me, and it was my first book by this author, won’t be my last. I highly recommend this one, but note that it is a family drama and you have all that comes with it, so be warned, it also gets a little tough with the topic of suicide. Release date is 4/23/19, please go pick up a copy, this is really good!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an electronic arc to review. All opinions above are my own.

i am going to just put my thoughts down and I am not going to get into the story but you can read the blurb for that.

This is not a thriller. It is a contemporary fiction and a slow burning mystery. I want thriller fans to know this because I really struggled with This book. I am the wrong audience for it. I am not a big fan of contemporary fiction or a slow burning mystery. I did like it close to the ending but I didn't love it. I did love the premise of the book and I was intrigued enough to find out what happened to Diana. This one seemed to drag a lot. I think of it was shorter, it would be a lot better. It just had too much random imformation that was not needed.

In the last 70% of the novel it did a complete u-turn and I really enjoyed it, but it was a little too late for that. My connection with the characters grew and I was happy that I finally grasped the connection to the characters. I was shocked when I found out what happened to Diana. I never guessed what happened to her and found this to be an unpredictable read. I also thought that it was pausible.

I think the author did great with the characterization of Diana. Close to the end I felt like I really understood her. She suffered through depression. My favorite characters were Diana and Lucy and I loved the bonding that they shared close to the end. Lucy really needed this. My most unlikable character was Lettie. Diana was wealthy and she asked for an enormous amount of money and I can understand why Diana said, no because I thought she was unstable and couldn't handle the responsibility. I thought she was a selfish spoiled brat. Diana did help out her family when they needed it. She did help out Ollie.
She just wanted her children to be able to stand on their two feet and work hard. I do think she could of done more for them though. I also thought it was very well written.
I just love that bookcover.

This was a Traveling Sister read and it really made a good discussion because we all felt differently about the characters and things that happened in the book.

I would strongly recommend this book to contemporary fiction and slow burning mystery fans. I think that audience will love this book.

I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth completely sucked me in with this compulsive engaging addictive story! This book took a hold of me and did not let go until the last page was turned!

This was an intense twisty story full of complex characters and complicated relationships. I absolutely love books that dig deeply into the psychology of the characters, and oh boy did this book do that! Perhaps there is no relationship more tenuous than that of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. My own mother in law unfortunately passed away a year ago, and I will be forever grateful that she really stayed out of our business, LOL! Someday I will have my own daughter in law, a relationship I am looking forward to because I trust my son’s taste in a significant other. Although I am imagining it will be a tricky relationship I am up for the challenge! What is that saying;”adaughter is a daughter for all of her life, but a son is a son until he takes a wife.”

This story is told from duel points of view, mother-in-law Diana and daughter-in-law Lucy. I felt this was a extremely impactful way to tell the story, you could really see how much misunderstanding there was between these two women. They both truly sought the approval of the other, and neither really knew how to go about it. Most interesting indeed!

The book starts out with the apparent suicide of Diana. As the book progresses we get a look at events leading up to the tragedy. As well as the present day investigation. As things begin to unfold and secrets begin to be revealed we really find out how truly complicated it all was. As the past is revealed Diana becomes a more and more sympathetic character. You truly do need to understand where someone’s coming from to fully appreciate their current actions. I liked Lucy from the very beginning and I enjoyed delving deep into her immediate family dynamics. Her relationship with Oliver and the kids was so relatable. Tom, Diana‘s husband and the father in law was a jovial likable character, who sometimes should’ve perhaps had Diana‘s back a little more! Always much easier to be good cop then bad cop!

This book will feed your appetite for domestic Drama with a glimpse into this family‘s conflict. I just think there is something so alluring about a domestic thriller, it just is always so intriguing to read a story about family dynamics.. What is so brilliant about this story, is this family could be any of ours! It is so familiar and there is something comforting about that, making the story just that much more!

Strongly recommended to anybody who enjoys a story with complicated characters, complex relationships, twists, turns, and a well structured compelling plot!

*** many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

When I first saw the title “The Mother-in-Law” I fully expected this book to be about an evil mother-in-law who causes all kinds of problems in the life of her sweet and innocent daughter-in-law. Well I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book was more family drama than anything else since I enjoy books about complicated family dynamics. The most compelling part of the book for me was getting to know Diana, the mother-in-law. There’s more to her than we think and I liked understanding what drove her and her decisions. I liked that the book really focused on the relationship between Diana and her daughter-in-law, Lucy, through the use of their dual perspectives. But other than the drama between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, there wasn’t really much else that grabbed my attention. The cause of Diana’s death just wasn’t that suspenseful and the ending felt a little rushed. It’s an entertaining and fast read and I’d recommend it if you prefer family drama rather than a page-turning thriller. 3.5 /5

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

4+ stars! A twisty, addictive, suspense-filled family drama!

Lucy yearns to connect with her mother-in-law Diana. Having lost her own mother, she craves a maternal connection. However, Diana has always kept Lucy an arm’s length away - always being kind and available, but never quite embracing her with warmth and welcome into the family.

The police knock on Lucy’s door one evening to inform her and her husband, Ollie, that Diana was found dead in her home, a suicide note tucked into her desk drawer. Left in devastating shock, Lucy and Ollie, along with Ollie’s sister and husband are left to pick up the pieces of their mother’s life. Diana was a wealthy and well-respected community figure who lived alone, having lost her loving husband years prior. As the days progress, several details come to light surrounding Diana’s death. The police come back to question Lucy and Ollie. Everything Lucy thought she knew about her husband and his family is challenged. Was Diana’s death truly a suicide? Did someone want Diana dead?

I loved the pace and flow of this novel. It is narrated by several characters, all of which held an intricate perspective to the story. It was an engrossing, truly addictive journey that I hungrily devoured, my mind flip flopping between possibilities of scenarios of what actually happened. This book kept me on my toes, my suspicions thrown all over the place, flipping those pages as fast as possible. I am a big fan of the author, Sally Hepworth’s, writing. I’ve read and enjoyed several of her books and look forward to what she has in the future.

This was a Traveling Sister read that we all enjoyed!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC to read and review!

Expected Date of Publication: April 23, 2019.

The writing was what really drew me in for this book. I love books told from multiple perspectives because I feel like you get to the meat of the characters and learn why they do the things they do. The book is told from the mother-in-law’s and daughter-in-law’s point of view. To be honest, I preferred the DIL as I felt the MIL was too harsh on her and her kids. Though I understood where she was coming from in some aspects I felt that she unfairly judged her DIL with other people she was interacting with in her charity. The ending I will say is a bit shocking as who I thought did it was not it. That alone deserves an award as nowadays it’s hard to find domestic thrillers that don’t give it all away too early. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick domestic thriller and knows the story picks up after the first 30%.