Beth and Tom are perfect couple. They and their little daughter live in a picturesque village, where everybody know everything about their neighbours.

Until one evening the police arrest Tom for a murder and their lives start to crumble. What is the truth? And how will Beth cope labeled as a serial killer's wife?

Nothing is as it seems.

Characters are well developed, their inner world exposed. Novel is really gripping and offers some nice escapism.


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This is a fabulous 5 🌟 physiological thriller.

I was hooked from the first until the very last page.

I thought I knew what had happened but no, I was totally blindsided!

I will definitely be looking out for this author in the future.

Loved it!

This is exactly the kind of book that you want to press into people’s hands and just say two words READ IT!

Not only was the premise interesting but the way it was written was not how I was expecting it to go either (always nice to be surprised). Narrated in first person by both Beth and her husband Tom and in third person by victim Kate there is also another nameless narration. Now I had my suspicions on who that narrator was but while I was thinking chalk the writer was writing cheese. In fact I’m either getting dumber with my guesses, the more thrillers I read, or the writers are getting smarter. I will leave you to form an opinion on that!

Although Beth was written to be likeable there was something a little off about her. Was she gullible or did she know? Is she the Rose West to Tom’s Fred or a Myra Hindley to Ian Brady. Or is she a victim herself? You will ask yourself so many questions and I hate the word unputdownable but putting this book down is the equivalent of eating a sugar donut without licking your lips.

Now I make it no secret that I’m judgy and I form an opinion quite quickly. However there was one character who I couldn’t form an opinion on and that was all down to the writing smarts of Alice Hunter. She alludes, she diverts attention, she pitches one train of thought then brutally swaps it for another. So before you know it you are changing your opinion and second guessing yourself.

So I will leave you with those two very words I stated earlier. READ IT!

An outstanding debut for Alice Hunter!

How well do you know your partner? After several years of marriage, you’d think you would know each other inside and out, wouldn’t you? Many people have skeletons in their closets, but what if those skeletons were real?

Beth is blissfully married to Tom, living happily in the village of Lower Tew with their daughter Poppy, life couldn’t get much better until one evening a knock at the door turns Beth’s whole world upside down. Tom gets taken to the police station to answer some questions about an ex-girlfriend who is missing and before long he is being held on suspicion of murder!

The title of this book I’m sure will make you realise that Tom’s ex-girlfriend is not his only victim. We follow Beth as she comes to terms with the fact that her husband is a killer and how she deals with the backlash of the press and the entire neighbourhood. They all think she knew, how could she not? Like I said though, how well do you really know your partner?

What a fantastic read this was! We know from the off that Tom is guilty of murder, but don’t worry, there are still plenty of shocks and surprises in this book which will catch you unaware each time! Every character has an unreliable side, making you question things throughout and wonder if it’s all quite so clear cut.

The pace of this story is just right, it’s not overly fast-paced like some psychological thrillers, but it’s not too slow either. Information is drip-fed to us throughout and the twists are spread out, this helps to hold your interest and makes the book incredibly difficult to put down. The whole thing is cleverly plotted, and the ending is just phenomenal! I did not see it coming! I think a sequel could come from this one.

When I read a book and it plays out in my mind like a movie/TV drama, that is when I know it would be fantastic on screen and this book did just that!

An addictive read with a realistic and chilling edge! I look forward to reading more from Alice Hunter.

Thank you so much to Alice Hunter and Avon for my copy of this fantastic new thriller!

A jaw dropping twist at the end! Fantastic result by a debut author.

This story held your attention throughout and the end is a rare gem of making you think of your own continuation to the titbit you are left with. I do love a book that does this.

To be honest I doubt I would have chosen this as a book to read but as I was invited to read this for an honest opinion I was then keen enoug. Telling a story about a serial Killer's wife did grab my attention as not many books tell this angle and I was interested to find out how this story would pan out and it didn't go the way I thought it would.

I'll certainly be looking out for more from Alice Hunter.

Out today 27 May 2021 and happy publication day Alice!

This was an easy read with the characters and locations being well described. I kept wondering what the twists were going to be as everything was obvious from the title and the book itself that her husband was a murderer. It was easy to relate to Beth, her home life, the pottery cafe and the trying to settle into the village, especially over the yummy mummy’s. A well thought out book by a talented debut author.

I wanted to like this book so badly..... I just couldn't get on board.

Let's start with the title, "The Serial Killer's Wife". I kept thinking, "Okay, there has to be a big twist coming.." nope, the twist was that her husband is a serial killer... is that a spoiler alert?

Listen, I think the writing was great, the story was easy to digest and follow, but there was nothing keeping me holding on. The one reason I finished this book was because I was stuck on an airplane. The husband and wife were so one dimensional, and there were so many side characters that lead to nowhere. I kept thinking the twist would come and it would include one of them, but it never came to fruition.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book. Unfortunately, this is just a story that did not need to be told. I need more thrill, more drama, and deeper characters.

The Serial Killer's Wife is an addictive and disturbing domestic thriller, written by Sam Carrington under the pseudonym Alice Hunter, and raises the question: how well do you really know the person you're married to? Beth and Tom Hardcastle have a seemingly idyllic life, the perfect marriage and family, and together they want for nothing. They appear hopelessly in love exactly as they should be, but we all know looks can be deceiving. Blissfully married for 7 years, they recently decided to move from the chaos of London to a village near Banbury for a quieter life in the countryside where Beth opened a successful business - Poppy's Pottery Place - a cosy, rustic ceramics cafe full of freshly homemade baked goods while Tom continued to be a finance portfolio manager in the city. The story opens at 8 PM with Beth having just settled her 3-year-old daughter, Poppy, when rather forceful knocking begins on the front door. She goes to answer expecting it to be her husband, Tom; he's later than usual but he's back now and that's all that matters. But behind the door stands the police and naturally, she begins to panic, her mind frantically skipping around the different possible scenarios as to why they're here and Tom is not. Has he been involved in an accident on his way home from work? The two plainclothes police officers introduce themselves as Detective Inspector Manning from the Metropolitan Police and his colleague from Thames Valley, Detective Sergeant Walters. They are here looking to speak to Tom and insist on coming in to wait. Tom commutes from their family home, a quaint cottage in Lower Tew to central London Monday to Friday as he works in banking at Moore & Wells.

Eventually, he arrives through the door and is greeted by detectives; he looks terrified and they inform him that they think he may be able to assist them with a murder inquiry. Tom is taken away for questioning at Banbury station before being released and then the following day is shockingly arrested for being involved in the disappearance and probable murder of his ex-girlfriend Katie Williams 8 years ago. Beth realises her life is ruined and about to fall apart and whether he has committed the crime or not the gossip-mongering villagers can't believe that Beth, the person supposed to be closest to him, didn't know about his deadly deeds. She stands by him but as more and more information comes to light she questions whether her husband was a Jekyll and Hyde type character who could've hidden his murderous streak and masqueraded as the loyal family man. But, it turns out, Katie is not the only one he is suspected of brutally slaughtering. They’re saying he’s a monster. And they’re saying she knew. This is one of the most addictive and disturbing thrillers I’ve read in years. Beth and Tom’s story is one of toxic love and obsession – it’s sinister, twisted, and terrifyingly plausible. It’s a totally compulsive read that had me gripped right up to the final line and left chills down my spine for hours after. This deliciously devious tale is perfectly paced, full of mind-boggling twists with an abundance of dark secrets unravelling before our very eyes. Laced with suspense and impossible to put down, Hunter studied psychology and worked in the prison service as part of a team offering rehabilitation programmes to violent offenders and the story feels more authentic due to her experience. Highly recommended.

Wow! This book captured my attention from the very start and kept me guessing until the very end. Navigating my way through the story, I had numerous theories about who was reliable and who had ill intentions. I must admit, it had me fooled.. if you like dark who-done-it’s, with rich characters, give this one a try.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read and review The Serial Killers Wife by Alice Hunter.

This was a superb debut novel. I was hooked from the very beginning. The story is told from Beth and Tom's view points and gets more gripping the deeper you go into the book.

I thought it was really well written and the supporting characters definitely added so much to the story which I find isn't always the case when you've got two such strong main characters.

It was a really fast paced book as well which I always enjoy, when you think it's going one way off the storyline swings in another direction, it definitely keeps you guessing!

I felt so sorry for Beth for the majority of the book but without giving away any spoilers this was totally gone by the end!!

Fantastic debut from Alice Hunter - will look forward to the next one!

Beth has found the perfect man in Tom and seven years later they are living a dream life with their daughter Poppy. Until one night Tom is late home and the police come to call. A twisty tale that will keep you reading. Everyone has secrets !
#NetGalley #TheSerialKillersWife #AliceHunter

There is a lot of buzz about this title. A debut novel that’s got a great premise and promise. Beth is our typical gal living her best life, married to Tom, a hunk, mother to an adorable little girl and running her dream pottery cafe. In the first few pages police come for Tom. Suspected of murdering his previous girlfriend. Beth spends a lot of time telling us and anyone who will listen how great a father, husband and man Tom really is. Some in the village shun her. Beth tries to hold her head high and continue her life. This doesn’t feel right, though. What is she hiding? Surely she had some idea? After a fast paced opening, we begin to doubt Beth right away. There are several twists (one big one telegraphed too soon and too obviously) that kept me rushing to the end.

This is a good read centred around the lives of Beth and Tom.
The book begins with a knock at the door and Tom is taken away for questioning about a murder.
Beth is shocked and has lots of questions when he returns home. However, he’s not home long before he’s taken into custody and not released.
The circumstantial evidence is building up and Beth is able to fill in a few gaps as well.
The book as a few twists and turns but I didn’t see the ending coming.
This is not really a thriller as it’s more about Beth, Tom and the people he’s killed but it’s a fast paced read that had me hooked.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3,5 stars

The Serial Killer’s Wife is everything the title promises. Beth and Tom seemingly have an absolutely idyllic life, but one day Tom’s home late from work, and the police shows up first looking to question Tom about the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. Beth’s shocked and thinks he must be innocent, or is he? 😉

I’d say it’s a thriller ‘light’. So if it’s not your usual genre but you’re curious this is safe! Sometimes the whole “living in a village running a café” experience makes you forget its a thriller and not a romance. It’s really mostly about Beth’s experience while her husband is being charged and suspicions arise. It’s mostly written from Beth’s perspective, some chapters from Tom’s (big Joe from ‘You’ vibes), and even the victim’s.

It was pretty fast-paced, even with the village drama intertwined. There were also some cool plot twists that I really enjoyed.

Good book, well worth a read. It kept me page turning, eager to find out what was going on. I think this will be a hit with other readers. Not going to rehash the plot, or give anything away, you will have to find out for yourself, and I think you will enjoy the journey.

I found this a very interesting book, it is a side of the story you never see. Fancy having to live with this knowledge and keeping it hidden.. Deep dark secrets.. thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Beth and Tom are great characters ,in very different ways
Great story telling,convincing,twists,turns,fab ending and would recommend

This is an insanely intense book!!!!!!!!!! This is my first Alice Hunter book and I loved it!!!!!!! The twists and turns in this book are so good it will boggle your mind!!!!! I highly recommend this book.

This was a better story than I’d expected.
Started off very slowly and I just couldn’t get my imagination to start working on it but then about 4 chapters in it clicked with me. I warmed to the characters and I was hooked.
Well told (if slow to start) and kept me interested right to the end, didn’t want to put it down

The Serial Killer's Wife was not what I initially expected. Beth and Tom are a married couple with a Daughter named Poppy. They seem like a happy couple but looks are deceiving. When Tom is arrested for the murder of his ex-girlfriend 8 years ago things go downhill fast.
The tricky part of this book is who can you really trust? Is anyone telling the truth?
I enjoyed the characters and they were will written. I do wish maybe more of Tom's upbringing was told in the beginning.
Imagine finding out your husband is a serial killer when the police come to the door. Add in the nosy neighbors and reporters and life is really hard to deal with, all the while trying to protect Poppy from the fallout.
This one kept me up late "dying" to find out the answers.

Thanks to netgalley and Avon Books UK for the arc