Just.....One...More...Chapterrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

The Wife Who Knew Too Much is a fast paced, gripping mystery-thriller, definitely one to get lost in.

This was me whenever I was supposed to go back to work, bed, or do any of my other responsibilities.

I struggled to put this this one down! Whenever I started to read, I would immediately get sucked in, to where I was absent-minded of what was going on around me.

The story begins with the beautifully, wealthy Nina Levitt stating,

"I’m writing this to raise an alarm in the event of my untimely death"....
“If I die unexpectedly, it was foul play, and Connor was behind it.
Connor—and her...”

In addition to loving that this book was a page turner from the beginning, I really appreciated how as the chapters would approach its ending, you weren't sure if the author would continue the story from the previous chapter, or if the story was going to switch to another character (which kept me on my toes) begging for the plot twist! I found myself getting immensely invested in the characters and enjoyed their development.

This is a story involving love, family roots, selfishness, murder and how our desires test our capabilities…

Many thanks to Michele Campbell, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Connor was Tabitha’s first love but they went their separate ways and lost touch with each other.Years later, Tabitha comes across Connor in a local bar and their old romance is rekindled. There is just one problem … Connor is now married to a wealthy older woman and an affair could cause him to lose everything.

The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell is a twisty psychological thriller .It is a well written book which I found even more interesting due to the unlikable characters and a surprise twist that I didn’t see coming

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.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for The wife Who Knew Too much. Pretty good suspense novel. A good summertime read. The opening chapter swept me right in to this book and kept me reading until its completion. I think the ending was a bit predictable but it didn’t take away my enjoyment of this book.

This is the third book I’ve read by author Michele Campbell and the second one that I’ve disliked strongly enough to give it only 2 stars (and still feel like I’m being too generous).

Last year, when I read Campbell’s A Stranger on the Beach, the two biggest issues I had with the book were the badly executed story line as well as the frustratingly cliched and unrealistically written characters. In my review of that book, I remember writing how much I loathed the characters (especially the main protagonist Caroline), whose actions and behavior would get more ridiculous and outrageous the more the story progressed. Unfortunately, Campbell’s newly released fourth novel The Wife Who Knew Too Much was plagued by pretty much the same issues as her previous book — the execution was poor and the characters were absolutely loathsome. Actually, in my opinion, the characters in this story — especially the main character Tabitha — were way worse....I disliked most of them from the very first page. Its not often that I react in such a negative manner to characters in a fictional story, but Tabitha truly did get on my nerves. Perhaps I’m tired of reading about middle-aged women who are immature and childish and come across like petulant teenagers, or who are portrayed as naive and overly emotional and incapable of thinking rationally. Tabitha is the type of character I can’t stand — indecisive, foolish, immature — throughout the entire story, she knowingly makes poor choices over and over (and over and over and over) again, and if that’s not bad enough, whenever things go south because of those choices, the main reaction is to whine and cry and beat herself up for being foolish (the word “stupid” is more appropriate but a bit too harsh)...then, instead of learning from her mistakes and trying to fix them, she pushes all rational thought away and dives headfirst back into the foolishness that had gotten her burned in the first place. It’s hard to dislike a character so much that you end up having zero sympathy for them as well as not caring one bit what happens to them, but that’s definitely how I felt about Tabitha (and all the characters in this story, for that matter). Don’t get me wrong — I have no problems with flawed characters, as those flaws are usually what makes characters realistic, but the characters in this story were beyond flawed...Tabitha, Connor, Nina, and just about every other character in here were so cliched and stereotypically drawn that they essentially became caricatures.

Aside from the characters, the other thing that annoyed me was the plot, which I found to be ridiculously contrived from beginning to end. It’s one thing for a plot to be predictable, but entirely another when it veers into “outlandish” territory, to the point that I have to suspend disbelief every step of the way. Barely halfway through the story, I got so annoyed that I started skimming through to the end, which I’m glad I did because I know if I had read it word for word, I probably would’ve thrown my Kindle across the room in frustration. The writing itself was also a problem for me, as it felt very elementary and clunky, plus the fact that, as the main character, Tabitha narrated the story from her first person point of view made it so much worse, as I got fed up hearing her go back and forth trying to rationalize every dumb decision she made.

After 2 books in a row that left a bad taste in my mouth, I think I’m officially done with this author, at least for now. With that said though, I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this if they so choose, as not everyone will have the same negative experience I did. So definitely check out other reviews first before deciding.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Michele Campbell and St. Martin’s Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Campbell’s writing, so it was really no shock to me at all that I loved this one almost as much as Stranger on the Beach! I flew through this one wondering what kind of craziness was going to happen next. I loved the suspense of this novel and how you keep guessing different characters to be the guilty party and then you’d be wrong all the times. I really enjoyed Tabby even when she was obviously not being smart, but I disliked Connor right from the first page. I enjoyed that both main characters had a crazy ex in their pasts! Definitely a thrilling, twisty read that I would recommend!

Out July 28th

I loved this book! I can usually sniff out the "bad guy" pretty quickly, but this book kept me guessing! The main character was sympathetic-although not without flaws. A fast paced read.

This one is tough to review, as I can't really explain why I am giving it the rating I am. On one hand, this book isn't particularly thrilling, the mystery is not particularly well done, the "bag guy" I saw coming a mile away, the main character was obnoxious, and circumstances surrounding the guilty party and the "why" of the mystery were quite apparent.

But, for some reason, I found myself actually wanting to read it. I was hooked from the first page. I was invested and I flat out, just really enjoyed reading it.

Other than that, I would say that this book is really more suited for mystery readers instead of thriller readers. It's not a thriller, IMO. But a mystery, yes.

*Review copy provides by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Nothing is as it seems…

Getting involved with a married man is a temptation that Tabitha Girard knows she should avoid but Connor Ford was the love of her life when she was seventeen and no one has come close since. They were from opposites of the track as they say and when his family forced their separation a devastated Tabitha learned to move on. And then he walks into the restaurant where she’s a waitress thirteen years later and the buried memories return, feelings that had never died are rekindled. Though their lives had diverged on different paths he’s unhappily married to a rich paranoid woman and she’s been surviving life’s trials and tribulations. How can she not be with him again? Can a man who would cheat on his wife ever be trusted? When Connor’s wife, Nina Levitt, dies is it a positive sign that the two lovers can finally find the happiness previously denied them, or is it an omen of the peril to come? To every relationship, we bring our past experiences, our baggage, and for Tabitha and Connor, the choices made in the past ripple through their present and affect their future.

This story is told to us in two voices, that of Nina Levitt and Tabitha Girard, two women who never knew each other but seem to have two things in common, their love of the same man and growing paranoia. Tabitha is out of her depth in the world Connor takes her to and the uneasy vibes she’s receiving cause her to question the motives of everyone including Connor. There are secrets to be unearthed and her curiosity might lead her to answers she’d rather not find. Will their love survive the stress?

The plot is fast-paced and engaging, the reader is easily drawn into the character’s lives, opening with Nina’s diary entry you wonder how much is truth and how much is a woman suffering from delusions. That Connor’s wife died by suicide was too convenient. Did he kill his wife? Is Tabitha naïve to believe in him? Doubts, of course, creep in but there are so many who had reasons to want Nina dead and nothing is as it seems. There are betrayals, and twists upon twists, just as you think you’ve figured things out the tables are upended again, never forget that greed, money is the root of all evil, the root of everything here. This book was an angsty, mysterious, second chance romance. Tabitha is a character who grows and this reader liked it when she got angry, her naivete and innocence disappeared and she became a force to be reckoned with. This was the first time reading this author and I was not disappointed.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

He was the gorgeous, wealthy guy at her high school. Every girl wanted to be known as his girlfriend and somehow he was interested in Tabitha. Tabitha didn't run in the same crowd as Connor and his rich friends, but she knew when a guy was interested in her. Their love seemed so real. Was it? Fast forward ten years and you think that the dramas of high school are long since over, but are they? Are they ever really over? The Wife Who Knew Too Much is an entertaining and engrossing story of love lost.

This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s a page turner that I really enjoyed and did not want to put down. The suspense and twists make this one I would recommend be on your reading list. I look forward to more from this author and will be adding them to my reading lists.

A well-written thriller with a twist. The twist was not a total surprise, but I cared enough to want to keep reading. In fact, my Kindle bit the dust while reading this book, and I downloaded the kindle app on my ipad so I could keep reading. That says a lot about my interest level. It’s good and engaging, the protagonist is likable and you want to root for her. Overall, I would highly recommend!

This book had me hooked from the first page, so much so that I devoured it in two sittings.

I loved the alternating viewpoint between Nina and Tabitha. I also enjoyed how Campbell gives small hints towards the ending throughout the novel that keeps you guessing the entire time (even though I was totally wrong about how it would end!)

The twist definitely threw me for a loop! I put some of the pieces together but it was so much more intricate that I could have ever predicted.

This is the first novel I've read by Michele Campbell and I can say I will for sure be reading her others now!

The synopsis of this book caught my eye, and having read two previous books by Ms. Campbell, I was dying to start this one. Right off the bat, the diary entry by Nina Levitt had me super intrigued as to what was going to happen in the story. But past that, it felt like I was slogging through this book.

I really felt no connection at all to Tabitha or Connor. We learn from flashbacks that these two met at the summer resort that Tabitha worked at, with Connor being the rich kid who she had a summer fling with. Years later, she's still trying to make ends meet, working in a bar and grill when Connor walks in, now married to a millionaire heiress.

Tabitha really had no redeeming qualities in my eyes. She made poor decisions as a teenager, and she continued to make them in her adult life. She really just acted like someone who just had no clue, and I felt no sympathy at all for her throughout the entire book. Except for maybe the very last chapter, but not enough to redeem her character for me. Connor, he was portrayed in such a way that I didn't know if I was supposed to hate him, like him, or feel sorry for him. So I just didn't feel anything.

I did like the premise of the story, and tried hard to figure out clues along the way as to who had really killed Nina, and I figured several things out along the way. There were some plot holes that distracted from the story, but overall I was very invested in finding out how this story played out. I think because there were no redeeming characters to root for, I was more just excited to get finished and find out who did it.

I commend Ms. Campbell on the story, it was intriguing and kept me turning the pages, it just didn't feel the same to me as the two previous stories I'd read. I think it is just a case of this book not quite working for me, but it won't deter me from picking up the next book Ms. Campbell writes.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

THE WIFE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH by Michele Campbell is a fast-paced and twisty thriller that gripped me right from the start and never let go until the very end. Having read the author’s two most recent books, I knew I would be in for a page-turner and I was not disappointed. The story begins with a shocking diary entry written by ultra-wealthy Nina Levitt stating that if she dies unexpectedly, it was foul play, and her husband, Connor was behind it. When just a young woman, Tabitha Girard, pool girl at the local country club, had a secret summer fling with handsome and preppy club member, Connor Ford. Leaving her broken-hearted when he goes off to college, Tabitha has never really gotten over losing Connor. Many years later, she is still a waitress in her hometown and barely making ends meet when Connor reappears in her life and seems to want to re-kindle their romance. But there is one problem. Connor is now married to the rich and famous Nina Levitt and has grown accustomed to the extravagant lifestyle her wealth provides him. If he is caught cheating, Nina has an iron-clad pre-nuptial agreement that leaves him with nothing. When Nina does end up dead, dark secrets begin to be revealed that had me questioning who was telling the truth and who could be trusted. The rest of this suspenseful tale kept me flipping the pages to see how it would all turn out. At times, I thought I had it all figured out, but I never guessed the surprising ending. I enjoyed this entertaining and fast read and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This was my first book by Michele Campbell and it won’t be the last! I loved the wife in this story! I don’t want to give too much away but this book has you thinking you know what’s going on and you know how things are going to end but you really don’t. I loved the thrill of being wrong. The ending caught me off guard!

Move over, Stranger on the Beach (one of my 2019 favorites), I enjoyed Campbell’s latest novel even more! I can’t put into words how much I loved this mystery/thriller. So so good! Is another fantastic five starred novel by the very talented writer, Michele Campbell.
The have’s-the have not’s, murder, secrets and suspense, it’s all there, including a fabulous location, Windswept, a super-sized stone and brick mansion bordered by a picturesque beach and sea.
The summer of finding their “first love” had come to an abrupt end for teens Tabitha and Conner, all in thanks to his mean spirited, wealthy grandmother. Fast forward fifteen years, Tabitha working in a diner seeing Conner, Conner seeing Tabitha, sparks flying once again. Only Conner is now married to a very classy, high society billionaire, living in a cutthroat world of the ultra-rich. What follows is a fairytale come true for them, that is until Tabitha reads Connor’s dead wife’s diary. Is Connor everything he says he is, or is he lying to her. Who can she trust? Everything comes crashing down on Tabitha, and it’s up to her to find the truth, not only for herself, but for her unborn baby girl. I loved this fast-paced murder mystery, with it’s unexpected twists and turns making it unputdownable until the last page. Nicely played, Michelle Campbell. A great summer read.

Much thanks to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Michele Campbell has another winner on her hands!!!

Thirteen years ago, Tabitha Girard, 17 years old, meets the very handsome and very rich Connor Ford one summer, however, his grandmother doesn't approve since Tabitha was born on the wrong side of the tracks. She knew he was the love of her life but by the end of the summer, Connor had to leave since his grandmother held all the cards and the money.

They both went their separate ways, both having other relationships but Tabitha knew it would always be Connor that had her heart. Until that fateful day that he entered the restaurant where she worked. Their feelings were the same as they once were but one problem, Connor was married to Nina, another very rich woman. Both knowing it was wrong, they couldn't stop and they had an affair. However, Tabitha soon finds herself pregnant and tries to contact him with the news by going to his wife's mansion on the night Nina is hosting a 4th of July party. But hours later, Nina is found dead. Was it a suicide or murder? And if murder, who killed her?

When things calm down, Tabitha and Connor marry and are living the life they dreamed about. Being together with a baby on the way. But as time passes both Connor and Tabitha become suspects, with Tabitha being arrested.

I love a book where within the first 2-3 pages, you know that this going to be a wild ride. And this book was. The suspense tension was as fast as watching an Indy 500 car race with no pit stops and hairpin turns. Characters, at times, that were dark and secretive that the reader will be going back and forth as who to believe had a stake in the vast amount of money that Nina leaves behind.

Tabitha claims her innocence but is now questioning if she really knew Connor. Can she truly believe him that he didn't kill his wife? Or will they have a happily ever after that they both wanted?

A white knuckle read that will have your heart pounding!!! I highly recommend this book for those that enjoy psychological thrillers!!!

To be posted 07/20/20 to GR
To be posted 07/30/20 to blog

This was a great book. It had suspense and romance. The ending came out as a shock, I had no idea. I can usually figure these out pretty early, so I'm glad my suspicions were incorrect and I could be surprised. This book kept my attention, maybe too long. I got pretty wrapped up in the drama of the book. I recommend it for a suspense book that's easy to read and highly entertaining.

Thanks to Netgalley and St.Martin's Press for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.


The story starts with Nina writing in her diary that if something happens to her, her husband Conner and the woman he was sleeping with are behind it. Then we see a news article in which Nina has died. Tabitha knew Conner when she 17, he was her first love so imagine her surprise when he walks into her bar all these years later. She knows it wrong, and he is married but she is completely taken with him again.


They end up together briefly and Tabitha knows it is all wrong, but is totally shocked when she turns up pregnant. She tries to get a hold of him, and ends up driving up to Windswept to see him in person. However, her crazy ex crashes the party because he has been following her and she is devastated to see Conner with Nina. She knows they can't be together so she makes the decision to leave. When she wakes up the next day she is shocked to find out that his wife Nina was found in the pool and it is believed that she committed suicide.


She finally is able to talk to Conner and he tells her they must wait a year because it will cause too many issues if they are together too soon, but all of that changes when she tells him about the baby. Soon she is married and caught up in a whirlwind life change. It isn't too long before the police come knocking and she finds herself entangled in a mystery surrounding Nina's death.


Overall I loved this, I was sucked in and couldn't put this down. I did figure some things out before the reveal and I was wrong on some things. Although I have some different thoughts in general about Conner and the way the author ended that, but I won't say too much about it because I don't like to spoil things. So I will say that I found Tabitha a little young acting for her age in the book although that wasn't super clear, and way to willing to overlook massive red flags in my opinion. Conner was charming and slick, but honestly not very likable.

I have been having a hard time getting into this one so far. I like the story line but I really hate the characters. That might be the point, but I am having a hard time getting through. I am going to keep trying because again, the premise is great.