"The Other Woman" by Jane Adams delves into a complex and unsettling family dynamic as Marcie grapples with her grandfather's impending death and the mysterious presence of Rebekkah, a woman haunting his fevered nightmares. The novel explores themes of family, secrets, and the unsettling revelations that can emerge in the twilight of one's life.

Adams skillfully weaves a tale that evokes a sense of unease from the very beginning. The strained relationship between Marcie and her grandfather adds a layer of tension, and the exploration of uncomfortable emotions sets the stage for a psychological mystery. The premise of a mysterious woman, Rebekkah, who seems to transcend reality, adds an intriguing supernatural element to the narrative.

The character of Marcie is portrayed as a conflicted individual, torn between familial duty and her own emotional turmoil. The emotional complexity of her relationship with her grandfather is well-crafted, and readers may find themselves empathizing with her internal struggle. The pacing is steady, and the unraveling of the mystery keeps the narrative moving forward.

However, the execution of the plot occasionally falters in maintaining a consistently gripping atmosphere. Some elements of the story may feel predictable, and the supernatural aspect, while intriguing, could have been developed further to enhance the suspense. The resolution of the mystery, while delivering a certain level of revelation, may leave readers wanting more depth and complexity.

The exploration of dark family secrets and the impact of generational trauma is a strong thematic element in the novel. Adams successfully captures the emotional weight of untangling long-buried secrets, and the consequences of Marcie's quest for the truth resonate with authenticity.

In conclusion, "The Other Woman" is a three-star read that navigates the complexities of family dynamics and the haunting specter of a mysterious woman. While the novel has moments of tension and emotional depth, it falls short of fully capitalizing on its potential for psychological suspense. Fans of family-centered mysteries with a touch of the supernatural may find aspects to appreciate, but the execution leaves room for a more impactful and nuanced exploration of the themes presented.

I really enjoyed the suspenseful atmosphere of this book, it kept me engaged from beginning to the end. The story was really well done and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.

The other Woman also known under the title of “Bird” previously published in 1997 is a dark family drama which finds a grandfather on his deathbed, a grandughter attempting to help him discover this woman he sees in his nightmares and her connection to him.

This story has many unlikeable characters as typical with family dramas but provides a paranormal atmosphere to keep us in suspense with the twists and turns one would expect with family secrets.

At times the plot was a little flat but the strong character development keeps the reader invested to find the answers,

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffee Books for this advanced digital for review.

Jane Adams keeps up the suspense as usual in this dark tale of family secrets. Marcie, estranged from most of her family comes to visit dying grandfather, to whom she was always favourite. She has a strong and supportive husband, twins and a happy marriage. Her estranged family are still around and the dark, abusive, murderous secrets are festering in the background, coming forwards all the time. Marcie needs to come to terms with these as well as finding out about grandfather's mysterious Rebekkah - myth or history? It was fast paced at the time but is about three weeks since I finished it and I've had to go back and skip-read to remember more than basics. Not usual for me, hence the 3* - not memorable. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The book started with a visit to a hospice and led to some startling family secrets and scandals. The plot was good with the right amount of twists. There are a few minor gaps that I would have liked to seen filled. Although, the minor gaps may have subtle endings to leave the readers to interpret.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

There isn't a family line in existence that does not hold secrets. Families are so complicated because, unlike other relationships, we cannot pick and choose the members. This novel demonstrates that in a captivating and ominous way that ends in quite a twist.

This is a suspenseful psychological thriller, but I think that's way over exaggerating. This is a soap opera filled with family drama. It's character-driven, and the character writing was good, but the story itself, the plot was a bit flat. I wanted more from this but didn't get it. Still, however, it was a decent enough read.

I really wanted to love this book but think it was too dark in some bits for me so found it took me a while to read.

Usually I really enjoy a thriller and there were many sections I did enjoy, but sadly I think overall this one just wasn’t for me. I have seen many great reviews for this book so I am sure it will do well.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review #TheOtherWoman

I received a free electronic copy of this novel on May 4, 2021, from Netgalley, Jane Adams, and Joffe Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Jane Adams brings us a tight, winding mystery with fully fashioned protagonists and, as promised, a shocking twist. She is an author I am pleased to recommend to friends and family.

This is definitely a noir mystery, which I love. Marcie is a woman with too many irons in the fire - marriage to Michael, the care of their young twins, her job, the antagonism of her birth family - and the constant mental desire to spend time with her Grandfather Jack, dying slowly in a hospice several hours away. Coming home was difficult as the family had in the past blamed Marcie for much that she never understood, her only friend in the family her Grandfather, her Jack. Her father, Grandmother, and Aunt Alice have no time for Marcie, no place, and no comfort. Michael and the twins are many miles away and she feels isolated and often confused with what Jack needs from her. Every day he seems thrilled to see her, his Birdie, with no knowledge of yesterday, and he spends much of their time together speaking of, and to, Rebekah, an obviously important family member but one Marcie has never heard of. The emotional highs and lows are done well, and I never saw the end coming. Jane Adams is definitely an author to follow.

This was quite a disturbing story, And although it flowed nicely it did have some upsetting scenes. It's slightly gothic which is something I enjoyed I like Jane Adams' books a lot and will be looking out for future releases Definitely recommend.

A beautiful story with complex characters who have their emotions running high. The twists and turns would sure keep you hooked. It was a good read.

I’ve been reading Jane Adams for a while now. She’s something of a shining star of the midlist thrillers, mostly owning to really good writing. This one is more of a drama than her other books I’ve read. It has enough thriller elements to justify categorizing it as such, there’s even the prerequisite plot twist at the end, but mostly the book really read just like a family drama.
And what a family…not a happy family, one of those Tolstoy’s unhappy families that’s unhappy in their own individual way and have been for generations. Not just sins of a father, sins of a grandfather situation.
Macie didn’t choose her family, she’s just a nice, exceptionally fertile twenty two year old who doesn’t seem to really understand the concept of contraception, but while she is happily married and mother to twins, her other family (the nonchosen kind) is a complete mess, held together by resentments and recriminations. Now that her beloved grandfather is on his deathbed, they come together just enough to reevaluate some choices and decisions and take a close look at the grandpa’s past. And sure enough, there are some skeletons in those closets.
So that’s the basic idea here and to accomplish that the author jumps around in different timelines, which is, while completely necessary, is also kind of exhausting. Something about the narrative leaps and bounds just causes temporal disorientation at times.
Adams excels at character writing and that’s definitely the shining star of this production too, but the plot itself is somewhat muddled. Plenty of secrets and torrid affairs and emotional subterfuge to go around, so it’s interesting enough and the family is certainly dysfunctional enough to forget to put the fun into it, but overall it never really exceed the just ok level. Not author’s best out of things I’ve read so far, but a perfectly decent read all the same. Thanks Netgalley.

The Other Woman is a dark and disturbing domestic drama revolving around sinister family secrets. Marcie is happily married to Michael and they have a set of twins together, Liam and Hannah. Michael is a strong supportive husband and backs up his wife in any given situation. She has reluctantly returned to her hometown after an absence of sixteen years to spend some quality time with her dying grandfather Jack, who was the one who brought her up, adored her and gave her the nickname Bird. Her childhood was a tough one and left her with long-lasting, far-reaching trauma. When her mother passed away, Marcie’s father, Alec, took her to live at his parents’ house but Grandmother Mary and Aunt Alice had a burning hatred for Marcie that she has never understood. Her grandparents’ home wasn't the safe haven it often is and there was abuse throughout all of her formative years, including controlling behaviour, creating a thoroughly toxic environment for anyone let alone a child. This has naturally taken a toll on her mental health. When she moved out and escaped the horrible situation she never looked back. Until now. The relatives who dislike her had called to inform her Jack was on his death bed. Due to being very ill, Jack is only lucid at certain times, but when he is all he talks about is an enigmatic woman named Rebekkah that seemingly no one in the family knows, or if they do they're keeping their cards close to their chest.

He claims this woman is at his side always, standing by his bedside at the hospice with a noose fashioned around her neck and he has nightmares about a woman from his youth hanging from a tree. Soon, Marcie, Michael and Alec begin to see spectral images of this very same woman. Before he dies, Bird promises she will stop at nothing to find out who Rebekkah was and how she relates to her beloved grandfather. Did he commit a murder and is now being haunted by the ghost of the victim? Or was this something he witnessed a long time ago? This is a compelling and enthralling mystery thriller with a touch of the supernatural and twists and turns aplenty. It's well written and shows just how dangerous and devastating long-held secrets and hidden crimes can be. But it's the atmosphere that really stands out here and is a character within itself; there is such an unsettling creeping dread that underpins the whole narrative. In the beginning, the relationship between Bird and Jack is heartwarming, but as it progresses and Bird unravels dark secrets, her feelings change dramatically towards her family and it quickly becomes grim. The tension is palpable and the characters are three dimensional and believable. I found the ending pretty unexpected, quite memorable and original and overall this was an engrossing and captivating read and a great piece of escapism that highlights the damage dysfunctional relationships can cause.

Originally published as Bird (1997)

Marci (Bird) has returned to her hometown to spend some time with her dying grandfather. He is only lucid part of the time, and he raves about a woman named Rebekkah, a woman who never leaves his side .. even now. He has nightmares about a woman hanging from a tree.

Her grandmother, her father don't want her there. This was one of the reasons she left home at a young age and never looked back. Her grandfather was the one person who she could count on .. until he wasn't.

Marcie vows to help her grandfather pull the truth from his nightmares. But the deeper she digs the more she regrets her promise. Are his nightmares the result of a murder .. he committed .. he saw?

And who is the woman she has visions of ... a woman with a noose around her neck?

Suspenseful with a touch of paranormal, there are twists and turns that keep one riveted to the pages. The characters are solidly drawn, but most of them are extremely unlikable. There are family secrets and lies .. The ending was totally unexpected and surprising.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

What a mind-numbing, bone-chilling story!

I was hooked on to the story until the end. Excellent character portrayal and storytelling. The twists- gosh, you will never see them coming!

The story alternates between outs of grim, heart-warming moments and supernatural element. I really loved the ending; a fantastic and totally unexpected twist at the end.

If you are looking for a unique and riveting read, I highly recommend you to give this book a try.

Possible spoilers.

I read this in one sitting,and it was a real emotional roller coaster,where I went from loving that a granddaughter and grandfather had such a special relationship,to very quickly thinking what had happened to sour it.
There were some grim moments,but some heart warming ones too,and the slight supernatural element to the book adds just a bit of extra excitement.
I wondered at motivation for a lot of the characters throughout the book,the choices they made.
It was good to be kept guessing.
Not an author ive read before,but one I'll look out for now.

A shocking psychological thriller.
Marcie is at Jacks bedside at the hospice she never called him grandfather, she was his scrawny little bird. She has arrived after been sent for by the family that don't want her there, but things Jack tries to tell her makes her more determined and what happens in his bedroom back at the house is so intense and real that was not her imagination.
Marciella Rose Whitney doesn't plan on sticking around her husband Michael and twins Liam and Hanna are waiting back home and did Jack remember everything that happened all those years ago.
Leaving with sacks full of Jacks possession that her Gran is throwing away photos and letters she leaves vowing to find out about Rebekkah, things happen she has visions and strange things happen. Its one chilling read. A remarkable story so intense.
I loved it

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
This book was previously published as 'Bird', the name Marie's grandfather Jack always called her. Jack is dying and Marcie has come home after many years to see him and spend time with him. She left at sixteen after a terrible rift with her family and is now a married woman, happily married with young twins. Her grandfather keeps talking about Become and when Marcie talks to her family about that, they give her the cold shoulder. But she's determined to find the truth.
It's a good story, it flows nicely and has some upsetting (but not graphic) scenes. It's slightly gothic, which I enjoy. I like Jane Adams' books a lot and read all that I can get hold of. Definitely recommended!

4 stars

A dark, sad story of family trauma & secrets with a supernatural twist & a sprinkling of hope.

[What I liked:]

•The main characters are interesting & sympathetic. I appreciated the complexity of Alex’s character especially, & seeing how his relationship with Michael & Bird unfolded.

•The writing smooth, & I especially enjoyed the descriptions of place & setting.

•This is not a suspenseful book in the sense that the intrigue had mainly already happened in the past, but the pacing & the process of revealing the secrets is engaging nonetheless. The angle of Bird trying to piece together the ramblings of a dementia patient gave a very plausible framework for it took so much time & effort to uncover the hidden past.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Alice was a confusing character for me. Why did she end up living with Jack & Mary forever? Plus, she never featured in any of the childhood flashbacks of Jack & Joe. I never got a sense of how she felt about Jack, or her relationship to her brothers.

•There was a good bit of jumping between different characters’ POV’s, near the end it was happening mid-scene. That got confusing for me at a few points.

CW: rape, murder, child abuse, infidelity, suicide

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

This was an interesting book! I really enjoyed! Read in a sitting!
The story was good and held my attention. I liked the way this was written as well! Done vary well!

THE OTHER WOMAN....
....Jane Adams
A dysfunctional family with dark secrets. The author has given readers a compelling list of characters to unravel of what they are really like.
Well done to enjoy the author’s unique thriller. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion from .Net ?Galley and Joffe,