From the first page I was hooked. I really like the author's writing style. This is a very entertaining mystery I can't wait to finish. This is my first book from this author but I have a feeling it won't be my last. More to come as I continue reading. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I don't believe in forcing myself to read/finish a book I'm not enjoying or connecting with. There are plenty of books that will grab me and not let go until i finish them with no effort from my part. This is one of those books. What a lovely story between Lucy and Diana although a bit sad sometimes. There was not one boring or out of place word in this book. Enjoyed it from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

I picked this book up thinking it would be a typical mystery/thriller, but it was so much more than that. I'm not married, but the relationship Lucy dreams of having with her mother-in-law is exactly the kind I dream of having with my own mother-in-law someday: warm, loving, mutually respectful. Her relationship with her mother, Diana, is not quite what she bargained for. And when she receives the news that her mother-in-law is dead -- an apparent suicide that turns into a homicide investigation -- she's left to reckon with her memory of a complicated woman and the family she left behind.

I loved the point driven home in this novel -- that we so often notice the differences between ourselves and others instead of paying attention to the similarities. It's a beautiful notion and something I'll carry with me after reading.

A twisty compelling tale is how this is introduced. Everyone in this family is hiding something! Communication is the key, but not in this super rich family. This is not my usual book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The final message I think is appreciate the people around you, and let them know! I would highly recommend this story. I could not pick the ending which left me satisfied as a reader. I will look for more by this author

In The Mother-in-Law, Sally Hepworth does an excellent job of building suspense. She does an even better job of prompting the reader to examine relationships from multiple perspectives. I caught myself stopping to reflect on my relationship with my own mother-in-law several times as I was reading. The novel is thought-provoking and satisfying, with a few red herrings to keep readers on their toes. As with most titles I've read under the Women's Fiction umbrella, I found the focus on babies and--particularly-- childbirth to be a bit much (although the adult female-child relationship is a central piece of the storyline), and I had to power myself through those parts of the book. This is not a criticism, but a note to other readers who may weary of it as I did that it's worth it to keep reading because Hepworth truly does weave a very good story. Her characters are believable and interesting. I found it especially impressive that the characters were painted not as heroes, victims, or villains, but as people with their own perspectives worthy of consideration.

There are two sides to every story. Well, that is the absolute truth with the Mother-in-Law. The story alternates between Lucy and her mother-in-law, Diane, who has been found dead. What seems like an apparent suicide turns out to be more complicated. It has some moments of excitement and there were moments where events that happened surprised me, but I found the pace of the book to be slow.

A great book I could not put down! I have read many books dealing with the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, and I thought I knew what this book would be like. There was shock, drama, and characters that I could easily relate to. I enjoyed how the book was told from different point of views and alternated from the past to the present. There were characters I thought I would hate and then found myself loving them. I thought I could see the path this book was taking, but there were twists and turns I did not see coming!
I highly recommend as a quick and engaging read!

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. The premise interested me, but at the same time, there was a bit of an eye roll with the stereotypical "new wife doesn't get along with her new mother-in-law" story. But this book had so much more than that. The book traded perspectives and timeframe, but never got confusing.

I really enjoyed this story, and instantly wanted to read more from this author.

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

The Mother-in-Law is unlike anything I’ve read before. The story is told both in the present and from the past, and from different points of view, interweaving the necessary details effortlessly and entertainingly. The characters, those with real substance to the story, are easily likeable. The plot is never quite predicatable, leaving the story an entertaining, but not heavy-handed mystery. I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick and amusing read.

This book epitomized the old adage “there’s your side, my side and the truth.” Alternating between past and present, and mother-in-law Diana’s truth and daughter-in-law Lucy’s truth, Hepworth perfectly delivered a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was totally unputdownable. I couldn’t wait to see what each new page would reveal. If you’re looking for a thriller that isn’t over the top and fairly realistic, absolutely grab this excellent read!

Sally Hepworth hits another home run! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story in a not so serious way. In laws can be trouble in real life so was interested to see how this story played out! Really, the author made her nicer than some authors do in their stories but it kept me entertained. I have read from this author before and given her 5 stars before just like this time. Good talent she has, as I do not throw at 5 stars often (do not believe me go look at my goodreads list) I am thrilled that I was approved this book to read in advance. Best of luck to the author and the publishers when the book is released to the public!

This is a whodunit mystery, but more than that it's a thoughtful engaging family story with well-developed characters. Initially I thought I'm reading just another thriller, but as I kept reading -- loved the two character narration -- I became engaged by the family relationships. Great and layered characters, an engaging plot and a setting in Australia that includes issues of the day, The Mother-in-Law is definitely worth reading.

Solid four stars. Maybe closer to 4.25. A quick and enjoyable read that is told from various view points and spans several decades. Ultimately, I think this book about love, and parental relationships. At times, I found Lucy unlikeable, but she grew on me as the story progressed. Like other books I have read recently, I feel like a few key details were glossed over towards the end, but I am glad I read this book!

The title captured me from the start because relationships with Mother-in-laws can be complex and interesting. The rest of the book - did not disappoint. It explored not just the mother and daughter in law relationship but also the dynamics between child/parent, husband/wife, and siblings and we know how complicated those can be. Exploring the emotions of the characters and giving us a new way of examining the circumstances of the death kept me on the edge of my seat and wondering what else was I going to learn!

I found my first Sally Hepworth book in London in a used book store and now can't wait until each new book of hers comes out. As her first thriller - this book did not disappoint!

This book was not what I expected when I started it. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it even more. I liked the structure of the narration. Except in one section, the story was told by Diana, the mother-in-law, and Lucy, the daughter-in-law. (Diana's daughter narrated a tiny bit towards the end). Diana and Lucy relate their stories moving back in time and in the present. It sounds like it would be confusing or choppy, by it isn't; it's very interesting how the narrations match up and feed off of each other. This is a story of family and parenting. It's mostly a story of the two women's journey to developing a relationship with each other. I really liked it.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Wow! This book kept me gripped all the way to the end! This suspenseful book is told by the perspective of two main characters, Diana, the mother-in-law and Lucy, her daughter-in-law. It switches between the past and the present as we wait to discover how Diana died. It is a true tale that there are always two sides to every story.

This was so gripping I couldn't put it down and in fact, I didn't. Literally put on my reading playlist and ignored everyone until about 10 minutes ago when I finished the book.

Told from duel perspectives in both past and present tense, I was easily consumed by the mystery surrounding Diana's death, the misunderstandings between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and seeing a first hand account of the inevitable trauma that comes with being part of a complex family. Lucy and Diana are both fantastic narrators and every person in this family played their role flawlessly. Concluding with a shocking twist that had me guessing right up until the reveal, this book is 100% the one you need to have on your radar. For me, it was an intro to Sally Hepworth that I won't forget and you bet I'll be checking out some more of her works ASAP.

Equal parts heartbreaking, thrilling and frustrating, 'The Mother-in-Law' is one of most engaging mysteries I've read in a while. If you like a family based drama that has all the best bits of a thriller scattered throughout, then this is one not to be missed.

I’m not sure why this is the first novel I’ve read by Sally Hepworth. It brings you in from the start and it was hard to put down. The relationship Lucy has with her mother-in-law, Diana, is one a lot of married women can understand. The story is told going from the present and the past as well as from Lucy and Diana’s perspectives. This was a little confusing at first, but after the first few chapters it was incredibly interesting to see where the book was going to go. In the present, Lucy and Ollie are being told that Diana has been found dead and it’s a possible suicide. And in the past, you see all the disfunction in the family and problems that either bring them together or tear them apart. After finishing the book, I’m glad there is a backlist of books for me to read by the author. The story was engaging, kept me reading until late into the night and the ending tied up the loose ends so I’m not left wondering what happened. I highly recommend this book. It’s worth the read.

A gripping suspense with a plot that has many twists and turns. This book will keep you up until the wee hours.

REVIEW: The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth .
.
Summary: Lucy lost her mother as a young teen. When she marries her husband, Ollie, she hopes that she will form a bond with her mother in law, Diana. However, that doesn’t happen. Unlike her husband, Tom, who is warm and loving, Diana is no nonsense and is cold towards her family. She gives her all to her husband and charity, but thinks the best thing to do for her children is to let them figure out their problems on their own, without the help of the vast wealth she and Tom share. When Diana is found dead, it is presumed that she committed suicide, but the evidence shows otherwise. Who killed Diana, and why?
.
.
.
Review: What I loved about this book was the changing narrators from Lucy to Diana. They both want a relationship, but neither one really knows how to go about it. This book is about a mystery, but to me it is more about family dynamics. Everyone can relate to family issues, to in laws that don’t get along, and the humiliation of having to ask your parents for help as an adult. It turns out that Diana wasn’t the monster Lucy thought, and that Lucy is stronger than Diana imagined. We sometimes think that people with money have it all, but do they? This book makes you want to stop and think about your relationship with your family.

Phew! This book was a roller-coaster ride of suspense, emotions and relationships.
To be honest, it's not a typical nail-biting suspense or thriller. But the way this book captures the depths of emotions in a seemingly 'normal' and by all accounts a well-off household is extremely captivating! The storyline is really really good!! I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an arc