If you write a story involving a missing person, family drama, fake identity, and a convenient cliff; you could possibly sell it to Hallmark for a cozy Sunday afternoon mystery movie. A decent read, but don’t expect a lot.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for an eARC of the Daughter in Law by Shalini Boland! Whenever Boland comes out with a new book I know it’s going to be twisty and something I need to get my hands on. She’s definitely an auto-read author for me.

Your new husband has a shocking secret. Would your new Mother in Law kill to protect it? In this one, the main character marries Seb and they move into the family home. She then finds out that he was married before, and his first wife is dead. Why didn’t he tell her before they got married? What is everyone hiding, and why doesn’t anyone want to talk about it?

This one’s a quick, twisty read that deals with a missing person and LOTS of family drama and secrets. I was questioning until the very end of this book who I could trust. Shalini does a great job building layers in to her twists to keep them coming.

Did she really believe I could let her live?

From the moment I meet my new mother-in-law, she makes it clear I’m not welcome. Lillian Fletcher hates me for marrying her precious boy on a golden beach far away from her. Lillian’s blue gaze follows me everywhere. Then accidents start to happen, and I know she is behind them. This woman is determined to get me out of her son’s life. Now I wish I’d never come here – But I have secrets too. And no one knows who I really am…

Caroline moves into the smallest town in Dorset, England from Byron Bay, Australia – newly married to Sebastian and ready to start her new life living in his family owned pub – the Royal Oak. The reception she gets is frosty to say the least, the warm glow emanating from the stunning Christmas-card thatched pub is rivalled by the icy stares Caroline receives from most of Sebastian’s family, friends and ‘the locals’.

This is my ninth book by Shalini Boland, and at this point, she’s an automatic read for me! Her novels are always interesting and intriguing, fast-paced with lots of twists and shockingly addictive. Sound like a rollercoaster? It feels like one too! The author has a way of pulling you into the book with the atmosphere and characters which makes the story you’re in feel that much more real. She really grasps the dysfunctional family and small-town vibe that tends to exist in some of these far out-of-the-way places – which gives the book a realistic feel for me – having experienced it!! I really enjoyed the domestic angle and although I was outraged on Caroline’s behalf – it made for good reading and I really didn’t want to have to put my kindle down!

After reading so many thrillers, I believe I am becoming something of an armchair detective as I was able to figure out two of the main plot points just before they were revealed – there were quite a few more to come that slipped by me though – the one at the end was quite a surprise! This book was a quick and easy read that I enjoyed, but it’s not one of my favourites! That place has to go to either The Girl From The Sea or A Perfect Stranger – both of which I would highly recommend giving a read.

My thanks to the author and Bookouture for my advance copy to review via Netgalley. This book is available from the 4th November 2022!

⭐⭐⭐

Three twisted domestic stars

Wow, I'm surprised I finished this book quite quickly. The author has a way of keeping you hooked on the book.

The atmosphere/vibes from this book were OK—a decent psychological thriller.

But honestly, sometimes the multiple POVs don't work. It's too ehhhh? IDK how to properly explain it.

Despite this, this is indeed a decent book but fails to make me attached to it. Other people would love this though :)

I don't even bother with a synopsis anymore--if it has Shalini Boland's name on the cover, I'm reading it! THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW was another gripping domestic suspense that started with a mysterious prologue in which a hole is being dug for someone's grave. I had no idea how this would play out until the very end!

Seb has returned from an Australian vacation back home to the UK. He's returning to the family business, a restaurant that he runs with his parents, and a shared dwelling above the restaurant. However, he's not returning alone. He's brought Caroline, and when he introduces her as his wife, his family is floored. After all, he hasn't even known Caroline a month!

Things start off rocky, and the tension mounts between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. Caroline finds herself questioning why she left her idyllic life in Australia behind, especially when she finds out that Seb was married before. Rife with drama and dark family secrets, THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW took a direction I never saw coming! I'm so grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for my early copy. This book will publish November 4,2022.

Fly-by Nighters! 😳😯🤯😳

Whipper snappers! Holy Chocolate Cows! Although Boland can be a hit or miss for me, this one was definitely a hit! From the very beginning the crackling tension is full and tight and as it progresses at a staggering rate, the suspension is ample and climbing throughout. I was completely invested in the characters and their story and Boland weaves them with finesse like a well-tuned artist with sculpturing. The plot keeps you at the end of your seat, doubting, guessing, constantly unsure, until she smacks you right in the gut with unbelievable revelations you don't have time to catch your breath before the next one! It's gripping, captivating & nail-biting to say the least and you'll be left questioning your own in-laws. You'll be shaken like a chocolate smoothie!

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Caroline and Seb have just gotten married and on their way back to the UK to live with his family in their beautiful cottage home and be part of the family pub business. But from the get-go Caroline can tell her mother-in-law, Lillian, is not pleased at all. Bad enough they all live together, Caroline feels Lillian's scrutiny everywhere, especially when accidents keep happening. Lillian is sure Caroline has ulterior motives for marrying her son and as her suspicions grow, she's determined to save her son at any cost. But Caroline has deep secrets of her own.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: November 4, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Jack-o'-lanterns! 🎃

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!"
Another brilliant thriller from this master storyteller. Shalini Boland never disappoints!
Caroline marries Seb after a whirlwind romance and returns to his home in a small Dorest village and moves into the family accommodation above their pub. Told mainly from Caroline’s and her obnoxious mother in law, Lilian’s points of view interspersed with the history of Amy & Michelle. To say that Seb’s family are dysfunctional is an understatement but it’s often the quiet ones that surprise us the most.
A brilliant read with excellent twists

3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️ for goodreads.

Caroline marries into a family with what can be best described as a monster-in-law. Lillian (MIL) is NOT happy to have Caroline in their lives. Lillian doesn’t trust her and feels she has a goal of tearing their family apart.

This story is told in four character POVs.

Things I liked:
- short chapters
- easy to read
- two really good twists


Things I struggled with:
- I didn’t really connect with the characters? It felt really forced to me. Lillian had such strong feelings from the beginning which were explained closer to the end of the book but I had a really hard time not just finding her outrageous at the beginning
- some parts of the story were really predictable
- it didn’t suck me in as much as I’d like it to!

I’ve heard of people referring to books as a “Honda civic”: reliable, good, but not exactly your dream car. I would say this fits that category! I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend people to read it, but it didn’t wow me.

This is my first book by this author and I’m looking forward to giving more a try. I found it read as easy as a Freida McFadden book - but just didn’t grip me as hard as Freida’s novels do.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I finished the book in less than a day so it's a plus!

Title is (read through the end) on point too.

Characterization, as how psychological thriller does, is quite OK.

Now onto the plot! Hehe
Judging from the rating, it might be the case of 'it's not you, it's me' because as much as the book was so easy to read, I didn't feel any pull towards it.
It gave me a drama vibe up until the 50% mark (and too much on it, in my opinion) rather than hooking me up from the get go.
The POV switches worked most of the time, but except for Lilian and Caroline, anyone else felt out of place.
For a book that was supposedly showing Lilian vs Caroline, it didn't show me much.

It's not just for me, but many would love it!

Wow...this was such a gripping psychological thriller I have read! Shalini Boland has done it again!

Caroline moves to a small town in England from Australia and is married to Sebastian. Sebastian brings his new wife to his family-owned pub and the news of his marriage actually shocked many, including his mother Lillian. Lillan starts cold feet with Caroline, believing that Caroline may have some sort of secret and was surprised at how Sebastian could marry Caroline all of a sudden. And Caroline believes that her husband's family are holding a secret--a secret that may ruin her marriage with Sebastian.

From start to finish, this book was engaging and unputdownable. The story is mainly told from Caroline's and Lillian's POV with a background story with two women Amy and Michelle going on in the story. It's typical that usually, mother-in-laws and daughter-in-law do not really get along but as you reach to the middle of the story, you will wonder what type of secret Sebastian was holding. You will also know that Caroline too is holding a secret.

By the middle of the book, and towards the end is where things started going...interesting. Secrets started revealing which becomes a completely surprising, twisted and unexpected secret. And totally shocking too. The end literally blew my mind away and I felt like I was holding my breath as I was reading the end. Overall, I actually enjoyed this page-turning fast paced thriller--if you like a page turning fast paced thriller with a bit of family drama, then I highly recommend you to read Shalini Boland's new book The Daughter-In-Law--worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Yes I loved this!! Brilliant storyline, characters all great and held their own throughout the story, the twists kept coming and the ending was fantastic! Read it and love it!! Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy

From the moment I meet my new mother-in-law in her beautiful country house, she makes it clear I’m not welcome. Lilian Fletcher hates me for marrying her precious boy on a golden beach far away from her.

Starting our marriage living in the Fletchers’ family home is a nightmare. Then I discover Seb was married before and his first wife is dead. I wonder why the man I love didn’t tell me the truth. And I wonder what happened to her: the woman who came before me. How did she die?

Lilian’s steely blue gaze follows me everywhere. Then the accidents start to happen, and I know she is behind them. It starts with small things, like a dropped birthday cake, a spilt glass of wine. But then my mother-in-law accuses me of something terrible. This woman is determined to get me out of her son’s life.

Now I wish I’d never met my handsome, clever husband. Or come to this luxurious house that feels more like a prison.
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture
I just reviewed The Daughter-in-Law by Shalini Boland. #TheDaughterinLaw #NetGalley

If I could describe THE DAUGHTER IN LAW, Shalini Boland’s latest book, in two words, it would be: juicy drama.

Exactly the sort of book I love.

Seb has just returned to the UK from a vacation in Australia and surprise(!) he has brought home a girl that he just met (that would be Caroline) and surprise(!) they decided to get hitched despite having only just met.

Needless to say, Seb’s parents, Lillian and Brian, are less than thrilled to meet Caroline.

To up the drama even further, the entire family lives up above the pub they work in, all in a small apartment, so they’re all up in each other’s hair during working hours, and all in each other’s hair after work too. It’s the perfect recipe to drive each other crazy, which is exactly what happens. There is bristling, nasty tension between Lillian and Caroline, and also between Caroline and Moriah, who works at the pub. Without spoilers, Caroline soon finds out more about things that happened before she arrived in England and it has left her shocked and dismayed. This book has twist after twist and they were so good! I never know what will happen in a Shalini Boland book, but I always know I will enjoy the ride. 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley for review purposes.

I really enjoyed this book by Shalini Bowland. We meet Seb who returns home from Australia with his new wife, Caroline. His family were shocked at this as they had no idea he was seeing anyone. Caroline is not made welcome by Seb's mother, a character I disliked from the start. When Caroline finds out Seb has been married before things only get worse. This is a very gripping book with a terrific ending.

This really is the perfect domestic thriller! What a book.
Shalini Boland is one of my favourite authors and yet again, this new offering did not disappoint.
I loved it and was engrossed from page 1.
It really is a great read and one I’d strongly recommend.

Wow! This story was amazing! As per the author's style of writing, I did not fully predict the ending and it was an absolute cliff hanger! Such a great read about a sister trying to locate her missing sister and the tangles that she get herself into. Will definitely be recommending this book.

This is such a good read, every bok I read by this author just seems to get better and better. It was gripping and had me totally hooked I read it i one sitting. Full of twists and turns and kept me guessing,

Addictive. Awesome.

This is my second book of Shalini Boland and is better than the first. What a thriller she pulled out!

As you know from the blurb of the book, Catherine married Sebastian without his family having a clue of it. They just went home as husband and wife. Needless to say, Seb's family didn't like Catherine. The mother-in-law is grouchy, the sister-in-law doesn't talk, the staff at their pub are unfriendly. But that isn't it. Catherine realises that Seb had a wife in the past that no one told her about. They advise her against trying to find out about the ex. But how would she not?
Against everyone's wishes, she tries to dig the unpleasant past. As if she didn't have enough enemies already. Those who seem bitter might actually be just lost; those who pretend to be sweet and cordial may be the dangerous ones. Confused already? This is just a starter.

The story is, in two words, a family drama. If you love reading family conflicts that have more to do with emotions than anything, this book is for you. We all want to protect out families. But how much will we do to conceal their secrets is the question.

The story is absolutely fast-paced and exciting. You can either not put it down or not stop thinking about it. The narration, the length and especially the pace at which the story goes is perfect for the setting. The language is quite good and I guess it is okay for beginners to try.

The characters: As you may already know, Catherine, the titular daughter-in-law is the centre of the story. After all, it is she who has to keep up with these weird strangers that she calls family.

Seb is not a very charming guy but not bad either. He is confused, lost and hasn't moved on fully before marrying Catherine.

Lilian, the MIL from an Indian TV serial, believes that Catherine is here only to seperate her son from her. She does silly and funny things in that misconception.

The other characters are Brian the FIL, Seb's brother Felix and his wife Nicki (the sister-in-law).

Recommended to anyone who wants a good hormone rush and has an undisputed, uninterrupted couple of hours. (That's the time I took to read it). It does complete justice to the time spent.

I received a review copy and I am posting my review voluntarily.

This Author can not write a bad book. She is awesome and this may imo be her best ever..
So many twist and turns I couldn't put it down. I devoured it in two days.

WOW WOW WOW! I have never read a Shalini that I didn't LOVE and this is no exception! 5 STAR read for me! I loved it SO much!