Marcie Maddox is Jason's second wife. She's younger than most of the elite set she associates with in Savannah, Georgia. That all changes when Jason's boss, William Radford IV brings home his own second wife. Keisha is even younger than Marcie. She's English, irreverent, and strikingly beautiful. Jason's been distracted lately, but he seems to have no problem focusing on Keisha. Suddenly Marcie finds herself feeling second best, and she doesn't like it one bit.

I hate to say it, but this book really just wasn't for me. The writing felt cheesy and stilted, and for most of the book, I just couldn't get into the plot. It had a slow start--we're introduced to Keisha, who has obviously married the much older "Billy" for his money, and we learn that Jason (and Marcie) have secrets of their own. But we don't get to learn any of these secrets, and so the plot is just a drawn out introduction to everyone, with constant teasing to these supposedly explosive secrets. I just felt like yelling, "get on with it already!"

Then things do finally move on, but they take some outrageous turns that felt a bit melodramatic and, at times, completely unbelievable. This is a really strange, weird read. There's voodoo and black magic, a lesbian storyline, and some very odd, often unlikable characters. I really wasn't invested in anyone. And while I am typically really excited for a lesbian plotline, this one felt forced, and the LGBTIA treatment of the characters was often pretty despicable: a gay party-planning couple is treated really derogatory and mocked, as well as portrayed in really stereotypical fashion, while lesbians are called "dykes" and just not really shown any respect at all. Ugh. Maybe I was being over-sensitive, but I wasn't impressed.

The book picks up a bit near the end, and there are a few good twists, but overall, not enough to redeem it for me. Others seem to enjoy this one, so take my review with a grain of salt, but this was a 2.5-star read for me.

Hmmm, let me say I was really looking forward to this book.
I have to give this two stars.
I’m really a little confused by this books message. By the story.
Because this is not a thriller. This is an adult contemporary with a ridiculous side plot that doesn’t even entertain you. And I’m still not sure of it’s purpose.
The characters, all of them, were detestable. Which left me with no interest in finding out how the book concluded.

Sarah Pinborough continues to be one of my favorite authors and this book is no exception. This one was a little different from her others but I really enjoyed it. I did feel that it started off a little slow but by the end I could not put the book down. There were a lot of characters introduced early on and it was a lot to keep track of but once we started learning more about each character it was easier to keep them straight. This book was filled with a lot of very unlikable characters and my feelings for them kept shifting throughout the story. One minute I would feel bad for someone and the next and I'd be like ok you had that coming. It was a really fun ride! I would recommend anyone who enjoys a good suspense/mystery type story to check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I will not be finishing this book. I really appreciate being given an advanced copy of this but sadly this book was not for me. I strongly disliked the characters in here and found this read like an episode of The Real Housewives. This sadly was just not a book for me.

This story line may not be original, second wife becomes suspicious when her husband starts paying attention to another woman, but there are a couple of unique twists in this version. Sarah Pinborough throws the reader into a world of easy living and women who will do most anything to keep their life just as it is. She stirs the pot by adding in some less than likeable characters who must make some decisions that will either keep the status quo, or blow up everything they are trying to protect. It's enough drama to keep you guessing as these women set the scene for murder.

I had a hard time deciding if I was going to give this book 3 or 4 stars... I ended on choosing 3.5.

I’m not going to tell you anything about it, you can read the description blurb, but other than that it is better to go into this blind.

Lots of twists in this book, as well as some interesting characters. I really didn’t like most of the characters except one, but that didn’t stop me from reading and trying to figure out what was going on. It was an enjoyable read. If you like thrillers with lots of twists and turns, give it a chance - you might love it! Seems people either love or hate it, and I fall in the middle.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sordid tale of revenge and mystery. I didn’t care for any of the characters but still enjoyed the read. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review..

Weird. It started out ok with a twist to who was actually going to have an affair. The middle was very slowing and dragging so I ended up skipping a lot. Once we got into voo doo etc, I was lost.

This thriller is similar to Pinborough's first novel, Behind Her Eyes, in that there is suspense and unease from the beginning. What's going to happen and to who? There are enough breadcrumbs to indicate several people that could be the eventual victim as well as who could be the eventual criminal. Every new chapter reveals a new and more disturbing layer of this society. There's a lot to love about how this book is written. It's captivating and enthralling and deliciously full of imagery. I have to admit, I guessed who the "bad guy" was, but I was still so impressed with how it all unfolded and every twist and turn it took. Additionally, there is more than one queer person in this novel which is always a good thing in my book.

4.5/5.0*

‘Revenge is best served cold, but in the steamy Savannah heat, blood runs so hot that this Summer it might just boil over into murder.’

DEAD TO ME reminds me of the soap operas I would watch with my Mom back in the day, watching the drama unfold for an hour or two in the afternoons.

There is Drama-ah-plenty in this book, with lies, sex, money, greed, corruption, and let us not forget – murder - much like in GENERAL HOSPITAL and ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Moms favorites Soaps.

If you’re expecting to go into DEAD TO ME loving and empathizing with many of the characters, don’t, you will be very disappointed.

Pinborough does an excellent job of revealing while at the same time hiding each character’s shortcomings, bringing few to light in a way that will have you the reader, deciding for yourselves, who to trust, who to believe – No one? Perhaps.

You will just have to read the book and figure out the truth behind the lies, which, in my opinion, was half the fun. ;)

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing, for providing me with and advance eBook of DEAD TO HER in exchange for an honest review.

There are times when a book makes me so mad that I immediately repeat the story back to my husband, a non-reader, just to have someone to talk to about how much I hated the book. This was one of those times.

I live in GA and have been to Savannah mores times than I can count. My thought throughout this book was, "Wow, this author must not really know about Savannah outside of an Old Town Trolley day pass with a ghost tour on the side." Then in the acknowledgments, the first thing she says is a thanks and apology to the people of Savannah Georgia, she says that she only visited Savannah for a Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, three years ago. She intended to go back but her father's illness prevented that and two forgive her inaccuracies as she had hoped to know it better. So I guess that can have a pass.

But what about that synopsis being the worst synopsis ever! It leads you to believe the book is about something else. I get that the publishers/marketing team tends to write the synopsis but having read this book and going back to read the synopsis.... it feels like they had no idea how to market this and needed to sale it as something it is not because the truth would not hit their desired demographic. I am not going to give anything away out of respect to the author.

I requested this book on NetGalley based off of the synopsis and the author's previous work. If this was not an ARC copy I would have DNF'd it and saved myself the annoyance. I did not like the characters or their development, nor did I like the atmosphere because it was based on a family deep in the southern culture yet very little of that was actually represented and what was represented was a very shallow view of the savannah society. This city is so rich in actual history and it was barely explored. How am I to believe this is a multigenerational Savannah family. I did not like the writing style. It felt so cheap and out for the shock value without the work for a solid plot. So many tropes about cultures used as plot devices made me sick. By the was "He was an Albino", seriously? A quick google search will let you know that is offensive to those that have albinism. If you are going to use that as a trope that should be looked into. I was not intrigued and could care less how this book ended and would have DNF'd it had it not been an ARC. Having finished it, is wish I would have DNF'd it and plan to pass on any other ARC's from this author and wait until more reviews are out. The logic aspect of this book is beyond the realm of possibility. Maybe if this was set in 1920 instead of 2020. Did I miss that??? This would have been a much better book has it been set in the 1920's. Hmmm....

Anyways, I would not recommend this book and I look forward to more reviews about this book so I can see if anyone else feels the same way or if I am the only one.

I had to DNF this book. It started out fairly promising. The plot was interesting and the characters seemed pretty awful (which I tend to like) but the story veered into a territory that I don’t read about…voodoo. I stay away from books that have witchcraft, voodoo, black magic, and similar things so this was a no for me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and William Morrow to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having read Pinborough’s books in the past, I thought that I was ready for the twists and turns that were coming. Surprise! There is no way that I think that anyone can figure this domestic psychological thriller out! The basic scenarios is Marcie is Jason’s second wife and is confident that she has his full attention. That is, until William, Jason’s boss, arrives with his new young and beautiful trophy wife! Keisha. Meeting for the first time, Keisha is magnetically attracted to Jason, and Marcie’s claws come out. There were so many twists in this book that it was like being on a roller coaster with a switch-back, going downhill. Wild! The ending, that I thought I had figured out, was a total surprise, leaving me with the satisfied smile of a Cheshire Cat. The secrets and betrayals make this book; it was like reading a printed soap opera because I could easily visualize each dramatic scene. This original and fast-paced book was hard to put down. Pinbororough is a master of leading readers down false trails and this book highlights her skill at capturing her readers and keeping them engaged. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next, making guesses and being wrong most of the time. What a fun book to read for those of us who are tired of the same old, easy-to-figure out mystery! I enjoyed every minute of it and I think that fans of this kind of thriller will read it and crave more from this author!

Couldn't put it down. Sarah Pinborough never disappoints so you know you're in for a superb read when you pick up her book. Wish I could give it more than five stars. This winner of a book deserves a spot on your keeper shelf. Happy reading!

While Sarah Pinborough is a talented writer, and I have enjoyed some of her other books, I had a hard time with DEAD TO HER because all of the characters were despicable. It's hard for me to get through a book when there is absolutely no one to root for. That said, this was a well-written novel with an excellent plot.

Available today- February 11, 2020!

I've been a huge fan of Sarah Pinbororough since receiving whiplash from her book Behind Her Eyes. If you haven't read that one, go now. It's amazing and crazy.

Needless to say, I was so stoked to receive an advanced copy of Dead to Her from NetGalley. This book did not disappoint. I literally got lost in the shower thinking about who was behind all of the craziness of the plot line. Make sure you have a full hot water tank before contemplating. On to the story...

This is a book about 2nd wives. Younger, more exciting wives. Those beotches! Just kidding. But of course they are an easy target and an easy villian. This book is narrated by two younger wives: Keisha, the newest is young, black, fun, wild, and comes to Georgia with a fabulous English accent, and Marcie, while still a 2nd wife, is now a few years into her marriage, and into her 30s. The newness is quickly evaporating for both her and her husband, Jason.

Marcie and Keisha are different, and similar. Both are trying to fit in with the well established Savannah upper class wives in their late 50s, and early 60s. It's a tough friend group, with a deep history. Once they decide to become friends, or to follow their hearts, both of their lives start to unravel. When one husband ends up dead, we are left with wondering who did it and why. There are a number of suspects, and it's time to start digging into everyone's deeply buried pasts.

This book may not be for you if you aren't into descriptive sex scenes, or still have unpacked baggage from marital infidelities. However, if you are a boring mom/wife, this read is one you will not be able to put down! Pick it up today!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

This novel has it all .... love, romance, jealousy, envy, revenge, high society living, and lots and lots of money and prestige.

Marcie married into the kind of influential life she always wanted .... but she'll never be a part of it. The shine has been coming off her marriage to Jason.

She's part of what she calls the second wives club .. mainly trophy wives who spend their days gossiping, drinking and their nights .. doing whatever.

Changes are coming. Jason's boss brings home his second wife .. the very beautiful , very young sexy Keisha. And the men can't help but keep an eye on her ... including Marcie's husband.

BOOK BLURB: Keisha quickly usurps Marcie’s place as the beautiful second wife. But when Marcie sees the extra spark in the room when Keisha and Jason are together and their obvious, magnetic attraction, the gloves come off.

Being a second wife can be murder.....

This psychological drama is a humdinger! Very well written, and nicely paced throughout, the characters draw the reader in on the very first page and don't let go until the surprising ending. Some characters are extremely likable .. others not so much... but they all stand out and stay in your head for a long time.

Many thanks to the author / HarperCollins Publishers - William Morrow / Netgalley for this amazing novel. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I really wanted to love this book because it sounded amazing, but I found it to be extremely slow. I found myself trying to hurry through it at times. It seemed to drag on so much until about 75% of the way in. I think most of the story line went okay, until the voodoo doll and all of that stuff came creeping in. Just kind of killed the vibe for me. It seemed to be a tad unrealistic and it annoyed me a bit.

As for the author, I have enjoyed her other books so this won't stop me from reading her future ones. This one just missed the mark for me.

If you like twisty, sordid tales of love, revenge, mystery, this is definitely the author for you. This story is a sexually fueled ride through the upper crust of Southern society and those outliers that find themselves thrust into that world. Marcie Maddox is the second wife who is taken aback by the new second wife of her husband’s partner. Keisha is a very young black woman from Britain who is the exact opposite of his first wife. As Marcie watches everyone revolve around Keisha, she too is thrown into the whirlwind. Secrets abound. Then, as anyone who reads Ms. Pinborough knows, there is a twist at the end that makes you shout “AHA!”

It is hard to put this one down. I loved the little pieces of the puzzle along the way. The voodoo was a very nice touch for the story. It was hard to feel sorry for any of them but they all did have their moments. I will warn you that there is a bit of sex and I know some people just can’t deal with that. It made sense to me with the characters. If you have never read her before, I suggest you do. Behind Her Eyes was one of my favorite reads.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for an advance copy.

DNF’d at 26%. I felt very disinterested and disconnected from these characters and this story. I went onto GR to see if the story gets better, but I read things that made me believe this won’t be the one for me. I loved Behind Her Eyes but I don’t think I’ll like this one near as much. So instead of forcing myself to read it, I’m moving on.