His Hidden Wife goes back and forth in perspective between Maya and Theresa, who have differing perspectives on the same situation. Each view makes you believe the situation to be one thing, but at the end what's really going on is totally different.

When Maya was six, her mother died, and she has repressed those memories. They have started coming out, making her believe her dad is not the man she thought he was. Theresa is trying to protect him from the truth coming out, and eventually she realizes she needs to protect them all from something bigger.

It was a twisty thriller, a bit slow to start, but picked up with unexpected twists and turns as it reached the final climax. I did not guess what was coming, and that's always the mark of a good thriller! I recommend this if you enjoy thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

3 Nothing As It Seems Stars
* * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
When I was younger, my father taught me a very important lesson. Unless you are a fly on someone's wall, you have no idea what goes on when people are together at home. It was something that stuck with me and still holds true.

We may think we have a handle on people, their relationships, who they are...but do we really. Sometimes, we may not.

His Hidden Wife takes this concept to another level with multiple points of view, mysterious relationships between father and daughter, coworkers, and a new wife who looks so much like the old one. This had lots of elements, not so likeable characters and twists happening.

I read this in 1 sitting. I could not put it down. There were so many twists and turns and just when I thought I figured some things out then I was wrong.
When Maya was a little girl her mom had died, by falling off the sea cliff. We re led to believe she committed suicide. She is now an adult and still living with her dad but he never wants to talk much about her mom and seems to be covering up things. She is finding out things bout their marriage and maybe her dad has been lying to her.
Her dad, Stephen is a psychologist and one of his partners, Teresa, where he works, seems to be obsessed with him. What lengths will she go to to be with him. She just left her abusive husband and took her son with her.
Teresa is also dealing with her mother who has dementia and she struggling with the decision if she needs to be put in a home.
Then Amy comes along, and Stephen is dating her. What things does she find out.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC to read.

His hidden wife a story centred around Teresa and Maya. Maya lives with her psychologist father who hasn't been the same since the death of his wife 25 years ago. Maya is very over protective of her father and isn't happy when he introduces her to his new girlfriend Amy. Teresa is in love with Steven and works with him at his well being clinic as a psychologist aswell but Teresa's partner is dangerous she needs help. Whilst Maya starts to question her memories of what happened the day of her mums suicide.

This is a slow starter I must say and I kept waiting for a hidden wife to appear, not sure why that's the title honestly but that's pedantic of me. I loved to see the relationship between Steven and both woman his daughter and Teresa are extremely protective of him because they love him. It's interesting to see how each one responds when they are told a certain narrative.

I liked the fact that this focused more on the psychological side, the idea of memories how they work and how they can be manipulated. It was an interesting narrative and I found myself questioning throughout the book what was true and what wasn't. Turns out I was in for a surprise.

Both leading protagonist aren't the most inspirational women it has to be said. But they are how they are due to circumstances in life that has worn them down. I liked both and found myself rooting for both women throughout. The chapters are separated by each woman although the story isn't told in first person it felt quite appropriate for it not to be.

This isn't one of your action packed psychological thrillers however it keeps you guessing. I would recommend to anyone who wants an easy read psychological thriller and likes to be kept guessing throughout. The fact the author centre it around memories is clever and thought revoking. The last few chapters throw me completely in a good way and the final chapter my jaw dropped. Thats why I am awarding the missing wife 4 stars.


Thank you to Netgalley, bookouture publishing and ofcourse Wendy Clarke fir the digital advanced copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Maya has so many questions as an adult of what really happened the day that her mom fell off the cliff to her death. Her dad is not giving answers and she only remembers parts of the day. I liked parts of this book but just felt like it ended with not clear answers. I thought it was strange that she grew up and never got any answers and didn't really seek them until she was an adult. I think the book had potential but it fell flat for me and I really didn't feel like the storyline matched the title of the book.

The story was set in the lovely county of Dorset overlooking the sea! Fantastic setting.
There weren't many characters and that's always a good thing for me.
This was a book built around revenge and how easily things can get twisted.
The story gets more and more exciting the further you get into it with a fantastic ending.
Well researched and mental health issues raised.

I’ve been excited about this book since I saw Wendy talk about it, and the writing process for it, at a Bookouture Panel which aired live on Facebook during last year’s lockdown. This book was definitely worth the wait!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I love the fact that although the central character, and possible villain of the story is Stephen, we get to see the action through the point of view of two female characters. I actually felt quite sorry for Maya from quite early on. She is an empathetic character in my opinion, and I felt sad that she had given up so much of her life to fulfil a subverted sense of duty and obligation, to fill a ‘hole’ that was left when her mother, which she knows deep down can never be filled. It is clear that, despite the years having passed, she is still full of grief and longing for what she has lost.

I like the fact that the story begins at a slower pace, with the narrative and character’s internal monologues giving subtle hints at the potential danger and eeriness to the story. I found this book difficult to put down, as I was eager to find out where the title of the novel would come into, and the secrets finally revealed.

This is definitely a sophisticated, well-paced and gripping tale. It is intended to shock, and I found the twists and turns to be completely unpredictable. I highly recommend this book to fans of Arianne Richmonde, Lisa Jewell and Shalini Boland

“He has kept more than one secret from you”

This book has definitely set the benchmark for creepy and twisted psychological thrillers, for the rest of 2021! – And I’m never ever making an appointment for a consultation with a therapist, that’s for sure! Even travelling to Lyme Regis and Bridport, two of my favourite places on the Jurassic Coast, will never be the same again, especially some of the many clifftop walks I have enjoyed so much in the past!

The opening lines from the prologue set up the backstory; with that same image and physical location being the focal point, which is revisited on several occasions during the course of this engrossing and disturbing storyline; leading to an ending which although consigned to a box in the back of my mind, and that of our main protagonist, still leaves that echo of doubt niggling away, that everything is not quite as cut and dried as we might have been led to believe!

Multi-layered is probably an understatement when it comes to trying to analyse the complexity of the story which opened up before me. I felt a palpable tension in the air as I began reading, with the suspense only intensifying as the storyline unfolded, leaving this a far from relaxing read, as I was continually on edge and needing to turn the pages ever faster! The twists and turns in this multi-faceted plot, just kept coming and there were more than enough red herrings to trip up even the most consummate thriller reader and they did me, constantly. Several times I had the storyline all worked out and straight in my mind; who was fooling who, who might have committed murder, who might be planning murder, who was bad pretending to be good, and who was good but was fooling everyone because they were really only covering their tracks; and every time, with the mere turn of a page, my mind was changed again!

This plot was compellingly and intricately built, lie by lie like the bricks of a child’s construction set, then dismantled piece by piece like a game of Jenga, until that one vital corner was pushed out in error and the whole thing collapsed into an untidy mess. A richly crafted and masterfully written, penetrating insight into the vagaries of the human mind, as witnessed from multiple perspectives, but with no single one of them being any less twisted than the others, until I wasn’t really sure exactly who was fooling who!

Whilst in itself this was not a particularly fast paced story, some mature and effortlessly skilled narrative and dialogue kept things seamlessly moving along, with the compelling blend and ever shifting sands of multiple duplicitous characters, the never-ending stream of secrets, and game changing event dynamics. There were only ever going to be two losers in this whole sorry affair and unfortunately those were the two young people involved, who both in different ways and with individual outcomes, have had their lives changed, and in Maya’s case completely rewritten, forever.

Talking about characters, which I suppose I must! There was not a particularly big cast of primary characters and although they were well drawn and developed, I found it really difficult to relate to, or engage with, any single one of them, which I suspect, was exactly as the had author intended. Keeping true to the personalities they had each been allocated, they were all far too complex and ‘needy’ to have any synergy going on between them. Add to that the many layers of facade, lies, deceit, secrets, selfishness, guilt, vindictiveness and vengeful thoughts, they all seemed to be harbouring, one against another, and you can see why I found none of them particularly likeable or investable!

There really are no winners in this story! – “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”

His Hidden Wife by Wendy Clarke is a twisty and engrossing story about young woman named Maya who still lives with her father, even years after tragically losing her mother.
When after many years her father brings home his new girlfriend bit by bit Maya finds things to be very strange as the woman not only looks like her dead mother but behaves the same. But when Maya starts getting flashbacks about the time of her mother's death things go from bad to scary.

The story is told from several perspectives, which I usually find very absorbing, however this time the story dragged on quite a bit. Only towards the end it picked up a pace.
There were also some situations that became clear only at the end but felt very confusing throughout the whole book.
The style of writing is fetching and quite literally and the storyline is engrossing.

Dual narration from Teresa a colleague of Stephen and Maya Stephen’s daughter works well to give differing viewpoints from those closest. Maya witnessed her mother tragically fall from the cliffs near their home Crewl House at just six years old. Now eighteen and working in a care home she is more than shocked when her dad brings home Amy, who not only looks like her dead mother but has all her mannerisms too.

Stephen is a closed book, despite being a therapist at his wellness clinic, he has never spoken of his wife’s death. With Amy now in the picture Maya now wonders if what happened that fateful day was an accident, suicide or something more untoward. Are her memories even real or have they been planted and by whom?

I love a slow burn character driven book and this one kept me on my toes right to the very last page. They all have secrets and I couldn’t trust anyone, knowing how Teresa felt about Stephen had me questioning how far she would go to get what she secretly wants.

The setting of the fog laden cliffs was a perfect expression of the mist of memories. The truth finally appearing like sunshine from behind the clouds.

This is a suspenseful thriller.

The whole book is full of secrets and revelations that get discovered all throughout the book.

The book kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat until the end because I couldn't figure out who did what.

Highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

His Hidden Wife by Wendy Clarke is the first book I have read from this author and I’m really struggling to write this review. I’ve been thinking about it for a few days and I’ve decided I didn’t hate the book, but I wasn’t wowed by it either.

Maya couldn’t live her life as she had to protect her father Stephen after the death of her mother.

Stephen couldn’t live his life and had to protect Maya for 12 years, until he suddenly started a relationship so serious that Amy moves in.

Amy is the image of Maya’s mother. Just who is she?

Then there’s Teresa, Stephen’s colleague, friend and stalker (she has a crush) and her DV situation involving a husband, son and mother with dementia.

Honestly I found the book confusing and didn’t really like the characters. Teresa’s storyline didn’t add to the main, just floated along next to it. The “big twist” was odd and I guessed the extra twist before the end.

Hopefully others will enjoy this book more than me. An average 3 stars.

I have heard great things about Wendy Clarke's writing! I am a huge thriller fan and so this book was right up my alley! This started off as a slow read for me; however, about 1/3 of the way through, it picked up! This book goes to show you never really know those closest to you. This is such a twisty thrill ride. I enjoyed the read but it didn't wow me. I would definitely read another book by Clarke, though.

This was not the book for me. I tried to get to at least 100 pages and I struggled to do just that. I couldn't connect. I found it boring, and there wasn't anything in it that I wanted to know more about.

2/5 Stars

This, my third novel by Wendy Clarke proved to be equally as enjoyable as the other two.

Stephen McKenzie runs a Wellbeing Clinic aided by Teresa, a partner at the practice. The other women in the generally laid back psychologist's life are his adult daughter, Maya, his romantic interest, Amy, and his dead wife, Cheryl who died in a tragic accident when Maya was six. Totally devoted to her dad, Maya has remained in the family's clifftop home, evening passing up on the chance to go to University, taking a job as a care assistant, preferring instead to be on-hand when he suffers from his dark moods. When Stephen meets Amy, brings her to Crewl House and introduces her to Maya, everything changes.

This was one of those compelling novels that I didn’t want to put down! Right from the start, I was absorbed by the suspense and the intriguing story-line. Wendy Clarke effortlessly brought to life some interesting characters in this gripping thriller, as well as delving into their thoughts. Memories and secrets surfaced and the author was in complete control as she brilliantly manoeuvred the tale, creating sinister tones and heightening the mystery. Wendy Clarke’s skilled writing made this appear effortless, keeping the story flowing so that I was never bored. With a few noteworthy twists, I was totally engaged all the way through, until the strong conclusion. Atmospheric and chilling, I flew through this unpredictable, entertaining psychological thriller.

Overall, Wendy Clarke’s special way with the narrative made this arresting tale quite distinct, resulting in His Hidden Wife being a very worthwhile read. I will certainly be looking out for more of this talented author’s work in the future. Well worth five stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

This is an awesomely written psychological thriller!

Following two different points of view, this book takes the reader on a suspenseful journey to finding the truth from the past. Maya has no memory of the day her mother died. Starting to struggle with the lack of information surrounding her mother’s death, Maya starts asking questions. Teresa has a rocky family situation. Leaning on her coworker and her secret crush gives her something to hold on to in a trying time.

I loved that I did not suspect the culprit or even some of the admissions while I was reading this book. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and I loved every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

It was a great read but totally predictable. Apart from that, the writing style was really good. None the less, I would still recommend it to all the readers who love reading thrillers or suspense novels.

Thank goodness they changed the blurb for this book because the story had nothing to do with the description I read when I requested this book, hence my confusion and somewhat disappointment as I made my way through the story. It’s a slow burn mystery that had me wondering what was going on throughout. I didn’t see that ending coming.

Oh how I loved this book!
This is a proper psychological thriller that has you doubting everyone and wondering who is keeping secrets, and who isn’t really what they seem.
The story centres around Maya and her dad Stephen and the mystery of Maya’s mum. As I was reading this, I felt like everyone was hiding something and that kept me gripped all the way through the book.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it certainly won’t be the last. Her writing style is so gripping and really makes you second guess everything as she gives you little snippets of information about the characters.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.

His Hidden Wife by Wendy Clarke is a psychological thriller with many twists you will never see coming.

Maya lives with her father in their cliffside home. The same cliffside where her mother lost her life twelve years earlier when Maya was a young child. Now at nineteen, Maya has given up her dreams of going to university to stay close and take care of her father, Stephen. She works at the local care home and although the job might not be what she wanted, it is ideal as it keeps her in the place she most wants to be….close to home. But, it seems Maya is keeping secrets, secrets she has never told anyone including her father. Maya is not the only one with secrets though. Stephen is keeping his own secrets as well as his co-worker, Teresa at the Wellbeing clinic where they both work. What secrets are true and better yet which one of them is telling the truth?

Wendy Clarke really leads you on a merry goose hunt with His Hidden Wife. I was really at a loss for a good part of this book going back and forth wondering who I could trust. I will admit to liking stories where the answer isn’t always right in your face and Clarke did such a fantastic job at keeping you guessing throughout most of the story. I would definitely say this story is very character driven and with that comes a very slow burn moving plot as we get to know all of the major players in the game.

I do admit trying to figure out how Teresa fits into Maya and Stephen’s story especially since the story is primarily told between Maya and Teresa in back and forth chapters. Maya, on the other hand, is not necessarily a character I enjoyed. She is rather dull and I never found myself quite warming up to her at all. She also seemed a little too much involved with her father in a sort of co-dependent and maybe a little creepy kind of way (or at least this is how I felt). Especially when Stephen lets out a little secret about Amy, his new girlfriend who looks eerily similar to maya’s mother. Yeah, that is not weird at all!

If you enjoy a slow burn story, one that will keep you on your toes, confuse you along in the process and keep you guessing all the way till the end then you do not want to miss Wendy Clarke’s newest release, His Hidden Wife.