Member Reviews
Such an incredible book. Thankyou to Netgalley. Avon books UK and Alice Hunter. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Beth has the perfect life with her husband Tom and their daughter Poppy. Their lives get uplifted into turmoil, once Tom is brought down to the police station under suspicions of murder. Beth now, is viewed as the serial killers wife.
A book that jumps from character to charterer, and present and past. This book captives what it is like to live inside a criminal mind. Hearing their thoughts, and their next calculating move. How they can twist words, and actions to suit them. Preying on the weak and innocent. Alice Hunter really brings her expertise of her knowledge of psychology and the mind of a criminal into this book.
My favourite part of the book was the plot and the epilogue. I slowly was able to fit the pieces together of what was going to happen. In the epilogue there is a small cliffhanger, however there is enough information to complete the story but still lefted me wanting more.
I'm look forward to the future, to be able to read more from Alice Hunter.
Beth and Tom moved from London to the country to give their young daughter Poppy a happier childhood than they both had. This changes when the police arrive to speak to Tom about the disappearance of a former girlfriend 8 years previous. When he is charged with murder, Beth does all she can to protect Poppy. The story is told from 3 POV's, Beths, Toms and an unknown woman. All becomes clear as the book proceeds with an ending I didnt see coming.
A great debut novel from Alice. Look forward to reading more from her in the future
I received this book from Netgalley and Avon &Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own
The synopsis makes this book seem like a very different story. I felt a little conned honestly which I won’t elaborate on due to possible spoilers. I was so looking forward to this thriller but it fell way short. The characters were unlikeable and whiny while the writing in some spots rambled for far too long. Beth, the wife, seemed overly concerned about the optics of her husband being charged with murder than the actual allegations. She divulges intimate information to acquaintances and lacks the ferocious motherly instincts one would have in this situation. Listen, I’ve never been a serial killer’s wife but I’m positive I would not act the way she did when having a family to worry about. And so, it took every ounce of me to finish this book. The twist at the end of the book was the best part but it actually made me more irritated because the book had so much potential.
Top marks for a great twist that I did not see coming! Unfortunately that was probably the best part of this book. It starts well - Beth is wondering why Tom is not home yet, he always like to give their 3 year old daughter, Poppy, a goodnight kiss. Then the knock on the door, finally! But instead of Tom there are two police officers at the door. Of course they don’t tell Beth anything. When Tom arrives home he is whisked off to be questioned about the disappearance, 8 years ago, of his former girlfriend Katie. Why now? She has been missing for 8 years.
Beth insists that she knows nothing about it. At the halfway mark we do not even have a definite murder, let alone a serial killer. The middle of the story really dragged as Beth grapples with her conscience about whether or not to tell the police what she knows. Which isn’t much at this stage. She is trying to protect Poppy from the fallout and trying to keep her pottery cafe running. And she is developing a very friendly relationship with Adam whose wife, Camilla, died a couple of years ago and who has a 3 year old daughter as well.
The information about the ‘serial killing’ is doled out far too slowly. The author was clever with her misdirection here and in how she dribbled out the clues and then hit you with the killer twist. Unfortunately by then I just wanted to get to the finish line. I think this author has a lot potential though. While I found the book slow, I did not, at any point feel like not finishing it. The writing was very good and the characters were well portrayed. I did appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC. Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Alice Hunter for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
Debut author, Alice Hunter, drops you right into the action, as inspectors knock on the door, looking to question Beth’s husband, Tom about the disappearance of Katie, a woman he was dating eight years ago-right before they met.
But, why now?
There is still no body. So, what new evidence could they possibly have?
The story unfolds mostly from the POV of Beth as she questions what she does, and doesn’t know about her husband, while trying to protect their 3 year old daughter, Poppy, and keep her ceramic and baked goods cafe afloat.
There are also a few chapters from Katie, 8 years ago, and an unidentified male, who enjoys “erotic asphyxiation”.
Beth’s constant justification for her thoughts and actions started to wear on me, as I waited for additional revelations, which took a little TOO LONG to come.
I wish the pace from the opening chapter had been maintained!
Still, the author has an easy, natural story telling ability and the twist at the end?
I liked it!
I read a lot of thrillers, and it’s not often when one surprises me!
Thank You to Avon Books, UK for my gifted copy.
It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Available May 27, 2021.
I really enjoyed this book full of twists and turns. So many surprising hairpin turns! This book had that definite creep factor! Which is a huge plus for me. Great characters and plot line. Highly recommend.
I enjoyed this book. All the twisty turny suspicions that chop and change all the way through the book. Worth a read and I did recommend this to a friend so I must of liked it!
I enjoyed reading this novel from various POV's. Parts were told from Beth's POV and parts were told from her husband Tom's POV. Imagine getting a knock on the door, on an evening when your husband is late getting home from work, and you answer the door to find the police on your doorstep wanting to ask questions about your husband. This is the situation Beth finds herself in. Can one truly know their spouse?
There were so many twists and turns in this novel and I loved it. With a final huge twist at the end that I did not see coming! A definite must read if you haven't read this one yet!
The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter is a thriller with lots of twists and turns you will not see coming.
Beth and Tom moved to a small town from busy London to raise their family. All is well until one night the police comes knocking on the door and brings Tom in for questioning for the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. Beth's life suddenly turned upside down as her family becomes the talk of the town and the news. Slowly, Beth realizes her husband might not be who he seems.
The author does a great job in the alternation of narration. It leaves you clueless until the very end, and then the unpredictable ending hits you. There were a lot of plot twists, some which I thought I saw coming, but I end up being wrong.
I knocked a star off because I did not like the characters. Everyone was questionable and felt underdeveloped. There were a few plot holes that felt like there could be more to that storyline but the author does not mention it again. Perhaps, she means for it to be a red herring to throw the reader off, but nonetheless, it leaves me wondering about a certain character.
Thank you to Netgalley, author Alice Hunter, and publisher Avon Books UK, for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Firstly a big thank you to Avon for my copy to review . I whizzed through this tonight.. what an amazing debut!
I was hooked instantly . Compelling and completely unpredictable.
A fantastic psychological thriller that will leave you wondering who’s telling the truth…
Fast paced with twists and turns aplenty. Perfect for fans of gripping thrillers and you won’t be disappointed.
Published 27th May and I look forward to reading more from Alice.
Wow. What a ride! Beth and Tom are the proud parents of 3 yr old Poppy. The police come to the door and want to speak to Tom about a missing woman he dated. As the story unfolds, there are a lot of secrets he has been keeping from those around him. Beth must come to terms with the man she married and what he may have done when more women are found dead. Beth must try to make a life for herself and Poppy when it looks like Tom will be sent to prison for life. But the twists and turns just keep coming all the way to the end. Don’t miss this one. Thanks to NetGalley and author Alice Hunter for an ARC for my unbiased opinion.
A great read, lots of twists and turns and an ending that left me feeling very satisfied and fulfilled.
Highly recommended for fans of thrillers and twisty dramas.
This was an excellent book that kept me guessing at every turn. I was unable to figure out the storyline, which is my favorite type of story.
Loved it !! Could not put it down because I just had to know what was happening ! Well written and a great mind tease and escape!
Thank you to Net Galley and Avon Books for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. This book had some crazy twists and turns. I wasn't sure what to expect as I started the first page, but it was so very well done. I don't want to give anything away, so this is shorter than my usual reviews, but trust me...don't pass this one up.
I so enjoyed reading this suspenseful, twisty psychological thriller. Disturbing, complicated, and unreliable narrators kept me on my toes wondering how much they aren't saying and what secrets are waiting to be revealed. I truly did not see the final twist coming.
Congrats to Alice Hunter on her debut novel. And thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review
It was ok. I saw the first twist coming but not the second. Three and a half
Wasn't expecting that. This thriller had enough twists to leave me wondering what was next. Beth was both innocent and cunning and half way through the story I started to dislike her for some of the antics she pulled. The end ties in so well and leaves an opening for the story to continue. Entertaining from start to finish.
This was a fast-paced read, centered on married couple Beth and Tom, who seem to have the perfect marriage until Tom is accused of murdering an ex-girlfriend. The rest of the book alternates between Beth's and Tom's POVs, as the reader tries to piece together what really happened and who knew what.
The pacing of the book was fast, with short chapters and only a small number of primary characters. There were twists throughout, though I did see most of them coming, at least to some extent, and the book didn't provide a ton of mystery when recounting past events. Still, it was interesting to watch the story unfold and see the different pieces lock in to place, as well as determine what the characters were hiding and what they were already aware of. There was a brilliant twist at the end which didn't fully catch me off-guard, but was an interesting way to take the story.
I had a bit of a rough time connecting to the characters- we didn't get much background info on what made Tom the person he is today, and I was regularly frustrated with Beth for neglecting her work duties, pawning her daughter off on others, and over-sharing information with people who she wasn't sure she could trust.
Overall, this was a good read and I enjoyed it. I would have liked it better if I had connected more with the characters and been more surprised by the twists, but it was still a good book. I'd give it 3.5 stars and recommend it to those who like domestic suspense and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks netgalley and of course Alice Hunter for this very exciting read.
Tom has killed woman for sexual pleasure, he likes to hurt woman by strangulation.
His wife Beth is saved as he only does it with woman who enjoy it and does not want to destroy his family and daughter.
Tom is arrested for murder and Beth helps to put him in prison.
But Beth is not as innocent as you are led to believe, and I really did not guess the end of this book.
Really enjoyed it well done.