The New Wife - Sue Watson
Narrated by Tamsin Kennard

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

You can never truly know what goes on behind closed doors…

My darling son, Sam, is marrying his childhood sweetheart and I couldn’t be prouder of the man he’s grown into. Walking out on his abusive father all those years ago was the best thing I ever did. And today he stands, tall and handsome, saying ‘I do’ to my dream daughter-in-law. If I hadn’t pushed them together all those years ago, he might never have found a girl as perfect as Lauren. It’s true what they say, mother always knows best.

Wow! I definitely didn't see that ending coming! How well do you know your friends and family? - This book will leave you questioning all that you think you know. This is a well-written psychological thriller, that will have you hooked from the very beginning.

A very entertaining read with many twists and turns - some predictable and some will leave you shocked.

Rating: 4/5

Georgie has every reason to feel on top of the world - not only has her son got married to his childhood sweetheart Lauren, the mother in law is Georgie’s best friend, meaning all her favourite people are now family. As if that isn’t enough, it looks like after decades of being single, Georgie has found the spark of a new romance. Life is good…until just months after the wedding Lauren is dead and her son has been arrested for the murder of his new wife. Georgie knows her son would never hurt anyone despite their past. She is determined to find out what really happened to Lauren and soon learns that no one is who they seem.

I really enjoyed this fast paced domestic thriller. At the beginning there are little hints of foreboding that pique your interest and you can’t wait to read on. The characters are varied and interested and you can really feel for Georgie as she desperately tries find clues to Lauren’s death whilst no one in her life is willing to spill their secrets to help her.

The narrator of the audiobook was brilliant at capturing the tone of plot. She provided a range of authentic sounding accents for each character which helped draw me into the story.

The book kept me guessing throughout the whole plot with constant red herrings and twists. I didn’t guess who the murderer was but when it was revealed it was a lightbulb moment and little hints had been there all along. I was impressed that all the loose ends were tried up with nothing left unanswered in a superbly crafted plot. It’s my first of the author’s books and I would definitely be keen to read another. Perfect for fans of psychological and domestic thrillers.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review and advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Sue Watson for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the first book by Sue Watson that I have read, I think I may have found a new favourite author. WOW, WOW, WOW. This book gave me literal chills, I absolutely loved it. This book had me hooked from the first page, it proves that you can never really know someone. Just as you think you've figured it all out, Sue throws another curveball at you. This was an outstanding thriller with enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. I think this will be extremely popular, I can't wait to read more by Sue.

Tamsin narrated this audiobook - she managed to add even more tension which I did not think was possible. Sometimes audiobooks can be a hit or miss but Tamsin was perfectly suited for this book.

Sam marries his childhood sweetheart, and everyone is happy! Sam’s mom Georgie walked out of an abusive relationship long time ago and she has found family in Lauren(Sam’s wife) and her parents.
Right when Georgie senses there’s some cracks in her son and daughter in-law’s relationship she gets a call from Sam saying that Lauren is dead, and he found her at the bottom of the staircase!
Lauren’s parents Tim and Helen are way beyond distraught about their 1st daughter’s death and they desperately want to know who killed her, they are very sure it was not suicide. Their 2nd daughter Katie is observing everyone and starts telling a bit of details to Sam’s mom when Sam is sent to jail. All those tidbits opens up a whole different can of works for Georgie. She no longer knows who to trust!
Then there’s Sadie, who has been Lauren’s best friend forever – she has always been in love with Sam is what Kate reveals..
Why was Lauren killed and who did it? This was a really thrilling whodunnit and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Bookouture Audio narrated by Tamsin Kennard

The New Wife
Sue Watson
Sam Moore and Lauren Jackson appeared to be the perfect couple. They met in kindergarten when Lauren was throwing a fit and Sam calmed her down; they were best friends from that day forward; even their parents became best friends. Twenty-three years later they married. They had only been married a few weeks when Sam returned to their picturesque country home to find Lauren dead at the foot of the marble spiral staircase.
The police find evidence that Lauren’s death is not an accident. When Sam is arrested for his wife’s murder, his mother Georgie, is desperate to clear her son’s name. She begins her own search for the killer. As she discovers a few key clues she takes them to the police, but they don’t take her seriously. Lauren’s father, Tim is a police officer, and he offers Georgie his support however, her mother Helen blames Sam.
Georgie is naïve and trusting, always looking for the good in others. When we look at people what we see is on the surface, but do we know what they are really like? I once had a friend tell me, “People thought we were Barbie and Ken, they didn’t know I was hiding the abuse.” We don’t really know what goes on behind closed doors.
This is a great psychological thriller. There are twists and turns throughout the book. I can usually guess “who done it” but this one kept me wondering. First, I thought it was one person then another and another. The clues are all there! The reader can look back on them and have an ah ha moment. There were several characters that were not likeable: Helen was mean; her true colors seemed to show when she was drunk. Kate was a sad character. Once the reader learns the truth concerning Sadie, they will see her in a whole new light. Author Sue Watson left no loose ends except the ending. I wanted to know how Helen handled the final situation. Kudos to the author and reader they did an excellent job.

Sue Watson never disappoints. This is a “who done it” thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed it all the way through.

Newly married Lauren is found dead in her countryside home, and it doesn’t take long before police have their eyes on her husband, Sam.

The story unfolds from the perspectives of Sam’s mother, Georgie, and Lauren’s mother, Helen. Could Sam really have murdered his new wife? And if not Sam… who?

I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers, and just when I thought I had the killer figured out, that twist came into play and I was proven wrong! Always love a book that can surprise me, and The New Wife gave me an ending I did NOT see coming.

I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator did a great job. I definitely recommend this book to any thriller readers, and I look forward to reading more Sue Watson books!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Format: audiobook
Author: Sue Watson ~ Title: The New Wife ~ Narrator: Tamsin Kennard
Content: 3.5 stars ~ Narration: 4.5 stars

Lauren, a perfect bride from a perfect family, married Sam, her childhood friend. Only three months after the wedding, Lauren is dead. A story told from the perspective of her mother-in-law and Sam’s mother, Georgie, who worshiped her son and his new wife.

Georgie is a single parent. But Lauren’s parents included her in their family since children were little. They did everything together as a family. Later, when Lauren is dead, it turns out Georgie doesn’t really know her and her family. Suddenly, a perfect family seems a bit less perfect.

3.5 rounded to 4. A New Wife is a fast-paced, gripping thriller and a quick listen. This is not my usual choice for a book, but I enjoyed it anyway. It makes you question how well do we know our friends. It could be even better if it included more characters. I would recommend it to fans of fast-paced, gripping thrillers with twists.

Thanks to Bookouture Audio for the ARC and the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sue Watson for this audio-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

Georgie has many things to celebrate and be thankful for. Her son Sam just married his longtime love Lauren and have a beautiful home with a bright future. She has a best friend who happens to be Lauren's mother Helen. Things seem to be looking great for the first time in her life. When Lauren is suddenly and unexpectedly found dead in their beautiful home life is suddenly shattered. As they try to piece together their lives thru the grief secrets start to leak out. Georgie realizes her life and relationships aren't as stable as she thought.

I enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator was great. I do feel like the book did repeat itself and drag a little. About the 70% mark I started feeling like this story would never end. Now I will say I did not see the end and killer coming. I was convinced I had it all right and it was going to end the way I predicted. It did not. This book is definitely worth the read. It's convinced me to check out Sue Watson's other works.

This is a captivating psychological thriller - the thrill of a murder mystery intertwined with the in-depth complexities of family life.

When Lauren is found dead in their new cottage out on the moors what is first believed to be a tragic accident is soon found to be a horrific murder. When put in an unimaginable position the two once so close families of the childhood sweethearts are trying to deal with the grief as well as trying to work out who had killed Lauren and the tensions start to rise, when fingers start to be pointed the cracks being to show. The secrets and twists in this family go deeper than even they know.

This is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Lianne Moriarty and I highly recommend it for those in need of a face-paced thriller that you won't be able to put down.

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This was a fun and suspenseful (ish) little story. I thought I had it figured out pretty much from the beginning, and even though I didn’t have all the details, I was close. Some parts of the plot didn’t feel super original either; I know I’ve read a lot of psychological thrillers over the past couple of years, but this one almost reminded me of a compilation of elements from several others. Regardless, I enjoyed it, and I’ll probably check out other stories from the writer in future.

I have listened to / read most of Sue Watson’s books; The Sister-in-law, Our Little Lies, First Date and The Forever Home. All but being four stars or above and this one is no different. Nothing is as it seems when secrets lead to lies – and in this story, there are a lot of secrets and a lot of lies to be had! This book gives has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. The hits just keep coming right up to the epilogue and then, it leaves you at the possible beginning of a brand new crisis, wanting a ‘The New Wife pt2.’ Georgie and Sam first met the Jackson family on Sam and Lauren’s first day of nursery at the tender age of three years old.

We don’t always truly see the people we love or the damage they do.

One evening, three months after the wedding of the childhood sweethearts, Sam calls his mother, Georgie. Lauren is dead… and isn’t it always the husband? Suspense and tension bubble under the surface in this first-person narrative told from Georgie’s POV. Perception is called into question throughout this thought-provoking book. Is a good person who makes bad choices still a good person? Are you naive to take people at face value and are you only seeing what you want to see? What lies beneath the surface of the people we think we know? Tamsin Kennard is amazing as always as the narrator and I highly recommend the audiobook. Sue Watson rarely brings anything to the table but excellence.

Five big stars – thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity of reading an advance copy for an honest review.

Ive read Sue Watson’s last few books and loved them so when I saw she had a new book out it was a must. I was lucky enough to get the audiobook and ebook and have been switching from one to the other at every opportunity. Both media’s are fab for this read and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a great psychological thriller with such a sense of intrigue and mystery throughout it. Your given enough information but it’s just not enough and you just have to keep turning those pages to get to grips with what’s really going on. I thought I had it sussed one minute the next I hadn’t a clue and my head was spinning with the twists. The characters definitely give you all the feels, one minute you like them the next you don’t and your second guessing everyone. It’s really well written and the pace is exactly how I like it. Yet again Sue Watson doesn’t disappoint. Loved it…

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture/Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to read/listen and review this ARC that was published on the 19th of Nov.

I am a huge Sue Watson fan and the New wife did not disappoint. Childhood family friends, Lauren and Sam have recently married but within a few months Lauren is dead and Sam has been arrested for her murder. The New Wife is a fast paced, creepy (in a good way) thriller which kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. I have to say I was rather proud of myself as I was 100% convinced that I had figured out who had murdered Lauren. But boy was I wrong. I did not see that one coming at all. Both Lauren’s and Sam’s families are dysfunctional but Lauren’s family is over the top insanely crazy, hiding all kinds of secrets and skeletons which eventually are unearthed in a shocking and dramatic ending.

Speaking of the ending, Sue Watson finished the story off with a huge cliff hanger. I am absolutely dying to know what happens so my hope is that Ms. Watson will not leave her fans pondering and fretting and will write a sequel so that we know what happened.

The New Wife is coming out November 19th, 2021. I highly recommend this 5 star read to you and and am very thankful to NetGalley, Sue Watson and Bookouture Audio for my advanced copy of The New Wife.

This was a good audio'! I really enjoyed the narrator and the story was good!! I thought I had it all figured out being the sleuth that I am, but I was wrong!

A very good, well written mystery, suspense that had me second guessing everything. And the ending!!! Wow, just wow! Someone dies in this story and it’s unthinkable. Was it an accident? Murder? What’s really going on??
Lots of twists and turns to keep you reading and wondering. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. I chose to listen to this book on audio and Tamsin Kennard narrated this and did a wonderful job.
Thanks Bookouture via Netgalley.
TheNewWife #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this audiobook! I read the e-ARC copy a few weeks ago, and loved it. I just had to listen to it again because 1. I LOVED this book and 2. Bookouture has an audiofestival on 11/18/21.

I absolutely loved the narrator. I could listen to her voice for any audiobook!
This dark psychological thriller is filled with so many secrets, cover-ups, and lies. My head was spinning trying to keep everything straight. The ending left me hanging! So good! Loved this book by Sue Watson. I read her book, The Forever Home, a few months back and this book was amazing!

My review will be posted to my instagram account for the Bookouture and Thread audiofestival.
https://www.instagram.com/thrillersandcoffee

3.5 ⭐️
Best friends Georgie and Helen are thrilled when their children, Sam and Lauren, marry each other. But shortly after the wedding, Lauren is found dead in the couple’s new home.

This story is told by Georgie and I am generally not a huge fan of first-person narration. Maybe it’s because I become too consumed with the reliability of the narrator which interferes with my enjoyment of the story. It didn’t help that I didn’t particularly care for Georgie. She was naïve, nosy and was full of self-doubt. I was particularly annoyed that she was urging Sam to fully co-operate with police yet was withholding important information from them herself. That being said, having the story told through Georgie was effective and helped make for a fun whodunit guessing game.

What I loved the most were the interwoven relationships. Georgie and Helen’s friendship was complicated first by Georgie’s new boyfriend and then by Lauren’s death. Lauren’s dad was a police officer who couldn’t work on his daughter’s case. Lauren’s friend, Sadie, got a little too close with Sam after her death. So juicy!

I felt like this story had a good mystery to it and the ending was a total surprise but I wasn’t particularly creeped out by it. I think the most unsettling part was the secluded and eerie setting of Sam and Lauren’s home.

The story just felt somewhat unbalanced. The first half of the book was slow at times and once it really got going for me, it ended with too many unanswered questions. I am happy that my questions were ultimately answered in the epilogue but I wished that more of those answered were finessed into the ending of the story. The epilogue felt too long and a little slapped together.

This story was a titch unbelievable but I did enjoy it. I loved the narration and found it to be a nice, quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me an audio arc in exchange for my honest review. The New Wife is available on November 19, 2021!

Thank you for this advanced copy! I would definitely say this is the best book by Sue so far. The different family dynamics in this book and how they intertwine was done in such a way that had suspense and kept the reader/listener hanging on to every word. I was so sure I knew who the killer was even after the author leads you away from that suspect, Holy cow, I did not expect the twists nor the relationships that were revealed at the end! Great book! Narrator was wonderful as well.

The New Wife is a fast paced novel will keep you guessing, lots of suspects, secrets and twists along the way make this an addictive read.

Georgie is a single parent and has raised her son Sam alone following the breakup of her turbulent marriage. Sam is marrying his childhood sweetheart Lauren and Georgie couldn’t be happier. A dream couple but the nightmare begins when only weeks later, Lauren is found dead and the police are investigating. Sam is questioned by the police and Georgie senses he is hiding something so decides to do a little digging of her own. She goes to Sam and Lauren’s house to have a look around and discovers that her daughter in law was hiding a dangerous secret. With suspicion pointing at Sam, Georgie looks to prove her son’s innocence but her investigations could put her life in danger.

I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to read more from this author.