Are you up for a twisty, entertaining read to get you through lockdown? Then look no further than this book!! Frankly, Sue Watson had me at the start with a drive down the Amalfi coast... which brought back some glorious memories somewhat different from the Taylor family’s vacation from hell! Actually, just being with this family would have been enough to send me hurtling for the nearest airport. Allow me to introduce you. There’s Clare and Dan who have three lovely, lively children - Violet, Alfie and Freddie. Dan is, shall we say not the best of husbands. There’s Dan’s mother Joy, who is the very definition of matriarch. Joy seems like a dream mother in law but is in fact very controlling and the most important thing seems to be what the ladies from the golf club would think. Shoot me now. Then there is patriarch Bob, who seems quiet, anything for an easy life but lets Joy get away with far too much. All seems hunky dory in their lovely holiday villa, g and t’s flow, lots of lovely food and lazy days by the pool. Then fun loving son, brother and uncle Jamie arrives fresh from his travels to great excitement. Hang on a minute, who is that bronzed goddess in the taxi with him - his wife???? What? Brace yourself for fireworks.

The setting is glorious, who can resist an old Italian villa with pool, overlooking one of the most beautiful places in Europe. Well, I for one can’t! The story is told from the perspective of Clare who sure has a lot to put up with but is she a bit martyrish??? Phew and as for Ella, let’s settle for manipulative, self obsessed Insta Queen, malevolent and twists things so she seems like the victim. In the ensuing battle of wills I’m in Clare’s corner despite my reservations about her. I cannot understand why Clare is so enamoured with Dan’s family because they are awful! I like the growing tension and Joys gin swilling attempts to brush anything that she doesn’t like under the carpet until disaster slaps her in the face.

My only reservations are that it takes a little while for the story to get going but when it does it’s full throttle. There’s some repetition at the start too as the scene is set. However, after that it’s impossible to put this book down.

Overall, this is a very entertaining read, full of twists, tension and surprises.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

I LOVED this book. Gripping and exciting through every page turn. The characters were excellently written, and lots of twists at the end. Please write a sequel showing the aftermath of the revelation 🤞

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Another mesmerising read from Sue Watson. From the first chapter I was hooked. A domestic thriller I couldn't put down. Clare was looking forward to her family holiday and a chance to reconnect with her husband Dan. Then her brother in law brings his new wife Ella to the family holiday. Ella is everything Clare wishes she herself was, attractive, successful, irresistible to men. Worse still Ella knows Clare's biggest secret and id threatening to reveal it to the family. Worse still Clare's mother in law seems smitten by her new daughter in law as does Clare's husband Dan. In a tension filled family holiday everything and everyone are not as it appears to be. Suspenseful writing with an ending I didn't anticipate. Secrets and lies at their destructive best. #suewatson #thesisterinlaw #tea_sipping_bookworm #netgalley #bookstagram #goodreads #litsy #amazon #kindle #bookqueen

We meet the Taylor family, Bob & Joy & their two sons, Dan and Jamie. Dan is married to Clare, who is a nurse, and Dan works for the family business. They have three children, Violet, Alfie & Freddie. Jamie, Dan's younger brother and has spent his time traveling to exotic locations happy to live off his parent's generosity.
It is expected that every year the family holiday together, this year is no exception Bob & Joy rent a beautiful villa in Italy.
Clare enjoys their time with Dan's parents, but Joy is rather bossy and likes things done her way, she is also very protective of her sons and the Taylor name.
Clare is hoping this year to revive her marriage after learning of yet another of Dan's affairs, but that is overshadowed when Jamie arrives with Ella, his wife, it takes everyone by surprise.
Clare tries her best to connect with Ella; still, Ella is exceptionally hostile towards Clare, belittling her out of earshot of the others at every opportunity. Ella covers her tracks so well that the rest of the family think that it is Clare that has the problem.
We learn that Jamie has told Ella a secret which Ella threatens to reveal about Clare, its repercussions would be catastrophic and are never far from Clare's mind, She also feels intimidated by Ella's perfection and can't help noticing how Dan acts around her, Jamie has seen this too.
This holiday will undoubtedly be one the whole family will remember forever, but will it be for the right or wrong circumstances.
A well written easy to read thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this pre-publication.

Psychological family drama 👁

Clare, her husband Dan and the children have just arrived in Italy on their annual family holiday. But this year is different... Bob and Joy, her father and mother in-laws are retiring this year, the family business is to be run by their sons Dan and brother Jamie. When Jamie turns up to the family holiday with a surprise of his own... he's got married, a whirlwind romance, but is all at it first appears...

There's lots of friction between Clare and Ella, Jamie's new wife, from the outset. She seems to slyly manipulate her way into all kinds of situations always making herself appear to be the victim, has totally changed the family dynamics of this family hierarchy. Advises Clare she knows her secret and uses this to blackmail her, claims she and Jamie share everything... they have no secrets between them.

It's all told through Clare's perspective. Started intrigued to what this secret was, had my suspicions.... a big twist at the end of this book. Overall great read.

I definitely probably in the past would've given this book 5 stars but that was before realizing a book has to completely either knock me off my feet or blindside me, but I did actually enjoy this tnriller.

The book is about Clare, married to Dan Taylor, and via Dan, the Taylor family name and business. Dan's parents own a small but profitable business and are retiring, but first are, as usual, taking the Taylor family on summer vacation, to Italy.

Dan's younger brother Jamie, who is a jetsetter and never really involved in the business, arrives with a wife, Ella. a stunning beauty. But everyone is surprised! Jamie....married? Dans a cheat, Clare works as a nurse and does computer work for the family business, and takes care of 3 kids all under age 10.

Well, the fun ensues, Clare and Ella hate each other. Ella constantly makes digs about Clare's weight and lack of style. Joy and Bob, the parents of Dan and Jamie, are manipulative. The whole family has secrets! It was fun to read the vicious, vindictiveness of it all, but as almost every thriller, I kind of had it all figured out in the end. By all means, a great read though. My guess is there is at least one surprise in store if you're getting to be a pro at the end of thrillers!


Special thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author Sue Watson for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a good, fast paced read that had you on the edge of your seat. I was so close to guessing one part of it, but so off at the same time! There were lots of twists that propelled you forward, needing to know what exactly happened. Clare tells you over and over that something happens and that she plays a role in it and you know from the beginning that most likely the sister in law dies, but why and how are a mystery until the end.

My only real complaints are that Clsre keeps alluding to this all throughout the books, before anything concrete really happens. But most of all, I hate how bad of a husband Dan was. It made me start to question my own poor husband and look at his actions more clearly. This book wouldn't let up on the unfaithful spouse and that was a downer for me on what was a great book, otherwise. I understand why it was needed, but I think it was overplayed more than it had to be.

Overall, I'm glad I read it and I did enjoy it

I liked this book a lot. Had no idea where it was going. Hoped the ending was going to happen including the reveal which made me happy - could have easily been a cop out with an easier ending.
There were bits which stressed me out, exactly what the book was aiming to do I guess!

Meet the Taylor’s - are families better when they will do anything for each other?

This story centers around Clare, the daughter in law to spoiled husband Dan. To the matriarch of the family, Joy, her sons can do no wrong. Also present is the totally dominated father and husband to Dan and Joy.

The Taylor’s work together, socialize together and even travel together each summer to a beautiful villa throughout the Mediterranean. This year, Joy has organized the family trip to a stunning Villa on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Societal proof they have the perfect family and such generous parents/in-laws. So what if Joy is a little bossy and loves to keep up appearances.

As the Taylor’s anxiously await youngest son Jamie who spends all his time traveling the world, it is finally time for Jamie to come back into the family fold. Only this time, Jamie doesn’t arrive alone. He’s brought a woman. And not just any woman, his new wife! No one in the Taylor family knew Jamie was dating someone much less newly married.

Meet Ella. Beautiful on the outside shallow and cruel on the inside. From Day 1, Ella prefers to keep her fans as an Instagram influencer glued to her perfect pictures and perfect life. She also will quite aggressively enforce change for the Taylor family with her sanctimonious speeches on the evils of eating meat and leaving a smaller carbon footprint which is a bit rich pardon the pun, as Ella seems to travel the world, lining large with no real apparent job. She also seems to have taken an immediate dislike to Clare, her new sister in law. She does this by preying on Clare’s insecurities through despairingly and mean comments (when no one but Clare is around to hear them.) She has also made it perfectly clear to Clare that she and husband Jamie keep no secrets from each other so Clare had better tie the line if she doesn’t want her worst secret to become public.

We all have secrets but how far would you go to protect yours?

A great read from cover to cover. Bravo Sue Watson on another brilliant read. Special thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC!

I love stories which centre around families and Sue Watson’s recent book explored the complexities of family life brilliantly. As a mother of three sons I know the introduction of a new partner into the family comes with its own unique dynamics.

The Taylor family is close knit. Joy and Bob have two sons , Dan and Jamie. Dan is married to Clare and he works in the family business . They have tree young children . Jamie is single and a globetrotter happy to live off his parents generosity.

Every year Joy and Bob organise a family holiday and this year is no exception they rent a beautiful villa in Italy. They are joined by Dan and his family but are surprised when Jamie arrives with his new bride Ella who the family have never met before. Dan and Clare are trying to rebuilt their marriage after his affair but with the introduction of Ella things do not go to plan

Ella seems to dislike Clare from the word go and constantly brings her down. Clare struggles to connect with Ella and finds herself in a triangle between Ella and Joy. A secret which Ella threatens to revel about Clare looms over their friendship and its repercussions are never far from Clare's mind. With Jamie totally in love , Clare worries about Ellas authenticity, somethings just don’t seem to add up. She feels threatened by her perfection and can’t help noticing how Dan seems captivated by her beauty and charm. Will the family manage to have a relaxing holiday or will disaster turn it into the holiday from hell?

I loved the easy reading this book provided. The first half did seem to repeat itself a bit but half way in the twists in the plot had me page turning and the storyline was not what I had thought it was going to be. A beautifully written thriller and if you think your family has secrets and personality clashes then after reading this they will pail into insignificance.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this twisty thriller.

When I read something so gripping, stressing and unputdownable like this book I normally start biting my nails, arm and end my painful journey ends with bite marks on my triceps. But this time, I couldn’t stop and left bite marks on our couches and fantasized five million ways of killing a sister-in-law Ella who seems one of the most irritating characters I’ve ever seen for long time!

Confession: I have read so many dysfunctional family stories lately but I have never seen so dislikable human leftovers for a long time. Taylor Family is more manipulative than Ewing family, more shameless than Gallaghers, more despicable than Bundies ( I’m talking about Married, with children family not Ted Bundy’s household) more notorious than Kardashians (I take it back! I’m watching sisters’ cat fighting on youtube and I just fell down from my couch because of laughing too hard!) They’re doing things and sweeping under the rug, acting like nothing has happened and moving on their lives.

The story starts like a lovely family gathering. We’re introduced Claire, narrator of the story, lost her father in young age and took care of her depressing mother for years till she lost her battle against Cancer. She was so lonely and when she became a member of Taylor family she seems like she filled the emotional emptiness she suffers for so long.

She married with Dan, having wonderful three kids, working at the hospital. Her life seems quiet great, even though she caught her husband’s two times cheating, she is so ready to forgive and patch things up about her relationship with the help of quality family time. She has an amazing mother in law( if you don’t care her bitchy and bossy attitudes) who loves her so much, helps her decide everything about marriage ceremony and convinces her to forgive her son’s misdemeanors (come on, only two times infidelity doesn’t count! Third time is a charm!),and she also loves brother in law, her husband Dan’s charming and younger brother Jamie who has adventurer soul and who always like to take what his brother has. And her father in law Bob seems like quieter than Silent Bob: He just observes everything and lives in his own world.

But their peaceful, balanced lives consisted of lies, secrets and betrayals is about to shatter because there is a new sheriff in the town. Jamie brings a wife-y (trophy?) Ella to introduce to his family. A glamorous, young, influential, young, sexy, tempting and a former bikini model. And worse thing is she hates the guts of Clare. She makes so mean remarks about her swollen body after giving birth to three kids, her age when no one listens or witnesses. As Clare tries to warn everybody she wasn’t the person they see, everyone thinks she is jealous of her.

Ella looks so sweet, cool, classy and having amazing relationship with everyone including Clare’s kids. And the worst thing about her, she threatens Clare to tell her secret which can completely destroy her family life. So Clare should do something to stop her, digging around to find out what her real motive is.

From the beginning, you want to punch Lena, hating her guts and wanting to throw the book against the wall, cursing like a sailor. But resume your reading maybe Lena is not the real bad guy of this story, because nothing as it seems and nobody is innocent in this family.

I enjoyed this book and it truly confiscated my mind. It is an amazing page turner to get your minds of from the quarantine life and entertain you a lot. Only the worse thing about the book: The characters are so hateful and irritating. My favorite most dislikable one was spineless Dan ( He deserved at least ten billion smacks!) I fantasized to put their holiday house in fire and drinking cognac when the flames rise up and burn it to the ground! It woke my vindictive bitchy side of me!

So I’m giving four blazing, secretive, gripping, riveting, exciting stars! I highly recommend this page turner to help you deal with your daily stress and thriller fans!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookoture for sharing this entertaining ARC with me in exchange my honest review and introducing me Sue Watson’s amazing writing!

I’m reeling a little after just finishing this book. It was a whirlwind of a read which really played with my emotions. It was cleverly written to make you both empathise and hate various characters. I was seething with anger at some of the antics but continuously questioning why and what was behind the behaviour.
It dropped a star because I thought the ending was a little bit rushed and I would have preferred to have the loose ends tied up with more detail over a few more chapters.
Overall it is a gripping book which I rated 4⭐️. I would certainly recommend and I will be looking for more from this author in future.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

The Sister-in-Law is the second book I have read by Sue Watson and it is definitely another 5-star read! Incredible story line.

I cannot recall a character I have absolutely hated recently more than Ella! At times, I was actually embarrassed for Clare and cringed while reading.

The Taylor's were certainly an interesting (albeit a messed up) family. I felt so sure that I knew what was going to happen, but wow was I wrong.

Such a great book, took me all of 2 days to finish this. 5***** for this book and will be reading more from this author

Y’all, I loved this one! Honestly I really wanted to read it because I recently got married and gained a sister in law (who I love!) but these types of books are so entertaining! Definitely a great thriller.

Oh my goodness Sue Watson has done it again with another domestic thriller, I just can't get enough of her books.

It held my interest throughout with such well developed characters, another brilliantly addictive read, I was wondering how the story would all come together but what a great ending, just loved it and will be recommending this to my Facebook Book Groups.

Well done Sue once again and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

Sue Watson has done it again!! A delectable domestic thriller that had me rubbing my hands in glee at the havoc that Ella, the new bride, created in the life of the Taylors. The author sure knew how to create the cyclonic winds that ripped through the pages of this book. Wicked, wicked!!

Ella had newly married Jamie, the younger son of Joy and Bob Taylor. Clare was married to Dan, the elder son and also the one with roving eyes and hands. The vacation in Italy was their last chance to bond and put their marriage on track. Uff!! How she could bear to be with an infidel husband was beyond me.

Having read many books by this author, I was cackling in glee at the way the dynamics of this group of Taylors were shown. They were simply so pretentious. They liked nothing to change their delicate balance. And entered Ella. The author managed to get the tone of the book changed with her entry. There was something hypnotizing in that, knowing there would be a crash and lives would be ruined. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.

I loved loved, loved Ella. I loved how witchy (substitute with a B) the author had made her to be!! She was like a wicked rat who threw that family of cats off their kilter. I loved seeing them scurrying, trying to please her, toppling each other and hurrying to prevent secrets from coming out. What fun!!

The pages turned steadily, I could guess Ella’s secret, right at the beginning as the author had peppered the prose with subtle clues. I loved how I tried to read between the lines to get to them. What I didn’t expect was the repercussions of getting the family into frenzy – DEATH!! Wouldn’t you love such a family?

Ella was so evil that she made my insides quiver, her darts of poisonous arrows found their mark. The barbs were fantastic in the dialogues. The ending was most unexpected. Sheesh I should have guessed it. But what can I say, Sue Watson had hidden it in plain sight…

A fantastic domestic noir, actually it was simply a thriller which thrilled my innards. And after a long, long time, a delicious breakfast read.

Clare and Dan are on holiday with their three children and Dan’s parents. Clare and Dan are trying to rebuild their marriage after Dan’s affair. Her mother in law, Joy, is an integral part of Clare’s life as her friend, confidante and surrogate mother figure. When Dan’s brother, Jamie, arrives with his new bride, Ella, Clare takes an instant dislike and intends to bring Ella down and reveal the truth about her to all.
Wow wow wow! I think has to be my favourite book by Sue. I had hit a reading slump and this dragged me out by my feet and had me up til midnight reading. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Joy Taylor is bossy and manipulative and her husband, Bob, is a wimp. They are retiring from their family business and leaving it in the hands of their two sons, Dan, who has already been working for the company, and Jamie who is a world traveler having a good time doing nothing and being funded by his parents. Dan and his wife Claire have 3 small children and she is a registered nurse. Joy and Bob rent a villa on the coast of Italy every year for a "family vacation." This year, their son Jamie arrives a day late accompanied by a drop-dead gorgeous model, Instagram celebrity and successful blogger who he introduces as his wife, Ella. Claire and Ella instantly dislike each other. What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?? Lots of bickering and backstabbing occurs from all members of the family and there are lots of family secrets that begin to come to light. None of the characters were, in my opinion, likeable, but I think that is why it is such a great book. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book that kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me mesmerized until the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller.

This book was just a delight to read!

Clare, her husband Dan and their three children are joining the rest if the Taylor family on a holiday to Italy in a desperate attempt to fix their marriage, but when Dan's brother Jamie turns up with his new wife Ella, things start to spiral for them all.

This is a book full of suspense which kept me reaching for my kindle every time I had a spare 5 minutes!. There is a twist at the end of this story too which I hadn't anticipated.

I would definitely recommend this book highly to anyone who loves a good, well written psychological thriller!.

Thank you for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.