Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed Edvardson's first book, so I was excited to get to read this one. Unfortunately, I got it approved too close to the pub date and did not get the chance to read it before that.

The Woman Inside by M. T. Edvardsson is a deeply layered domestic thriller which I enjoyed very much! The opening scene reveals the discovery of a wealthy murdered couple - but is this truly a family tragedy?

Three points of view plus various interspersed interrogations, news articles and reports move the story along at a fast speed. As everyone has their own motive - everyone is a murder suspect. This is a very character driven book, and I really came to understand each of the three narrators well; I love when thrillers are less about pulse-pounding moments, and instead really create the mindset of the characters.

This book was simple, but complex all at the same time. The story unwinds and unravels in the most perfect way and it is one you need to be paying attention to. At one point I was reading the book one way, and then suddenly it got flipped around, and all of a sudden everything I thought was right was now left.

Finally:
-this one is for those that love gray areas and vigilante justice
-this title can be taken so many different ways, and it's so perfectly fitting!
-the last line of this book is absolutely brilliant, and it says so much about the character!
-this book only re-confirmed my adoration and respect for Swedish authors

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the complimentary copy to read and review.

Good “cozy” domestic mystery. I was invested the entire time and was curious of how everything would come together. I have a couple unanswered questions but nothing too pressing. I thought the ending was a bit far fetched.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for this advanced copy. I did not finish the book in time because I kind of lost interest in the story. There were parts that I was hooked and then parts where I was wanting to DNF. Overall the story was good but it just was not the book for me.

I was a big fan of A Nearly Normal Family, so I was looking forward to this one! Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. It wasn’t a bad book, but more mediocre. Not particularly memorable and the characters didn’t have much depth or anything to really draw me to them.
I do understand that this being his first English language novel must have been challenging to write. This simply didn’t live up to his previous.

When a wealthy couple with a troubled history end up dead, their cleaning woman and her landlord become the prime suspects for murder. As share their complicated lives and history with the police, it becomes clear there’s much more going on than meets the eye. Swedish author M.T. Edvardsson tries to use the flashback method to tell a story that ultimately falls flat in execution in the U.S. release of his new book, The Woman Inside.

Karla Larsson has moved from her small rural town in Sweden to the city of Lund to start her studies as a law student. As she preps for the entrance exam, though, she’s desperate for both a place to stay and a job to help her get by. Karla’s father died when she was a young girl, and her mother has battled drug addiction ever since. If she’s going to make it in this world, Karla has no one to count on but herself.

The student housing in Lund is cheap but way too loud for any meaningful studying. She comes across an ad for a room to rent in another part of town and goes to meet the landlord, Bill. Not sure what to expect, Karla is pleasantly surprised when she realizes Bill is a kind soul and father to eight-year-old Sally. She rents the room right away, and between that and her new side hustle cleaning houses things are finally starting to straighten out for once.

Bill Olsson feels anything but set for life. His fiancé, Miranda, died after a harsh but short bout with cancer. Broke after paying the medical bills and out of a job because he couldn’t keep his work hours, Bill is desperate to make a living. He’s been picking up odd jobs, which helps, but it’s not nearly enough. Renting a room out seems like a risk, but Sally takes to Karla immediately and Bill thinks the arrangement might be a new financial beginning. Maybe, now that he can breathe a little, he can start focusing on finding more meaningful employment.

As far as jobs go, Jennica Jungstedt has one that isn’t conventional although she counts it as meaningful. Jennica spends her evenings talking to people who call into a psychic hotline. She never claims she can talk to the dead, and in most cases callers just need a sympathetic ear. Jennica is more than happy to give that to them. It’s more than she can do for herself or anyone has done for her.

When Jennica starts dating a widower physician, she thinks she’s found The One. The man is an attentive boyfriend, but Jennica can sense he’s holding back. His story about his former wife’s tragic death somehow doesn’t ring true. Still, Jennica is willing to overlook a lot. Her boyfriend’s obviously been through so much; no need to put him through the wringer by asking really hard questions.

Karla gets assigned to clean Steven Rytter’s home and meets his ailing wife, Regina. The two clearly have tons of money, yet they can’t find a cure for Regina’s illness. At first, Karla thinks of the job as fairly straightforward. Steven hired her to clean the house twice a week, so that’s what Karla will do. Yet every time she comes to clean, Regina tries to draw Karla into conversation even though Steven has expressly told Karla not to talk to his wife.

As time goes on and Bill’s financial situation gets more dire, Karla tries to help. Her decision to do so will throw her, Bill, Steven, and Jennica into unforeseen circumstances that eventually lead to Steven and Regina’s murder. The police press Bill, Karla, and Jennica for information, but none of them are ready to give up their secrets or how they might really be connected to one another.

Author M.T. Edvardsson’s second novel to be released in the United States starts with a slow-burn intensity that, unfortunately, gets doused along the way many times. The characters, in a surprising turn for a domestic thriller, are uncomplicated. Edvardsson does his best to offer back stories and motivations for the characters, but these feel insipid at best.

The story begins to pick up steam in the last several chapters, but the big reveal doesn’t make sense given what readers learn about the characters earlier in the book. The plodding pace of the novel gives readers plenty of time to guess what will happen before it does. The final twist is underwhelming at best.

With a plethora of thrillers on the market, readers might be better off giving this one a miss.

I love a good thriller but sadly I felt this one was a bit drawn out for me. I almost felt it a little of the wife upstairs from Rachel Hawkins. I am grateful
For the chance to read it. I liked it I just didn’t love it.

I absolutely love books like this. The mystery was amazing. Not only the mystery of who killed the couple, but the mystery of how the three POVs were going to be related.

This book was fast-paced, intriguing and kept me turning page after page. I am absolutely so happy I ended up getting the audiobook as well, because there’s no way I could accurately pronounce the names of the cities and last names.

Highly recommend this one if you love thrillers/mysteries!

The definition of a thriller, this book told through multiple perspectives is the perfect read if you’re looking for an effortless page turner.

We know the crime immediately: two people, a husband and wife, are found murdered in their home in an affluent neighborhood. The plot unfolds from there, with excerpts from news coverage and police interviews interspersed between the narrative. It turns out none of it is quite what you think.

I appreciated the nods towards Jane Eyre with the “woman inside” - but I think this was likely unintentional. I found the idea of a “family tragedy” being taken apart and examined more closely was very compelling - again, nothing is quite what you think it is. The most engaging part of the plot was the developing relationship between overwhelmed single father Bill, his daughter, and their lodger, student Karla.

The book falls short with (ironically) its length and phoning it in on some of the character development. Some of the connections felt somewhat forced.

This is altogether a very readable, enjoyable thriller. By the time the murderer is revealed, we understand the interconnectedness of all of the characters and how every choice made has consequences for the world around us - even for people we have never met.

A solid mystery that will keep you guessing right up to the end.

The Rytters - A sick wife confined to her home. A shady husband that is definitely up to something. Who murdered this wealthy couple and why?
Bill - recently widowed, broke, and struggling to provide for his daughter alone. What is he willing to do to keep from losing more?
Karla - a law student struggling to reconcile her bills and her troubled past. Will working as the Rytters new maid and moving in with Bill help solve her problems or create new ones?
Jennica - another character struggling with the complexities of life, only her problems seem slightly less significant compared to the others’. What part will she play in this story?

The Woman Inside by M. T. Edvardsson begins with a police report setting up the big question: How did the Rytters die? From there, the story is told in flashbacks from the perspectives of Bill, Karla, and Jennica, as well as, police interviews and news media. I thought the author did a great job with this structure, enhancing the tension and suspense.

There seemed to be a theme throughout the book of money = problems and more money does not = happiness or even contentment. I know this isn’t a new concept, but, in this book, it was actually kind of depressing. Sometimes I would empathize with the characters, and sometimes I would ask whyyyyyyy. This was my first time reading Nordic Noir, and apparently these types of characters and situations are pretty standard for that sub-genre. I think the book was also trying to make a statement on the criminal justice system, but, honestly, I was just in it for the mystery.

While there are no jaw-dropping twists, The Woman Inside is still a well-crafted whodunit with a satisfying conclusion that I recommend to anyone that enjoys that sort of thing.

Thank you Celadon Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was based on an actual true crime. I've never read a thriller/mystery book where it was based on a crime! So this book was exciting, I don't like reading POVs from multiple characters. My max is 2, maybe three but this was a little more than that. But I did enjoy this book and recommend it


Thank you to NetGalley, M.T. Edvardsson, and Macmillan Audio for sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.

The Woman Inside was the second novel I have read by M.T. Edvardsson. (Incidentally, it is also the second book I have read called The Woman Inside....the first being by an author named E.G. Scott, and also 4 stars). This book worked well for me as Edvardsson's follow-up to A Nearly Normal Family. I liked it pretty much just as well.

As I have come to expect from Nordic Noir, The Woman Inside has lots of flawed characters, and very few truly good or truly bad ones. While I found the novel addictive start to finish, I loved figuring out how each character was going to tie to the other ones and how all their stories were going to come together at the end. I was honestly surprised at some aspects of the ending. I was also a bit disappointed in some resolutions to various plotlines. The one plotline I struggled with the most was that of Bill Olsson, the widowed father, who struggled with an addiction that was obviously going to be detrimental to his young daughter, but didn't have the willpower to overcome it. Again, I have come to expect in my Nordic Noir that I am going to face realistic and raw plotlines that feel dark and depressing at times. Overall, though, the ride was worth it and I am adding anything else Edvardsson writes to my TBR list as soon as its announced.

Sidenote (and totally off-topic): Did anyone else notice how much the author photo on Goodreads looks like Billy Corgan? My husband is a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan, so I had to show the pic to him and he laughed at how much the small thumbnail photo resembles him.

A wealthy couple has been found dead and there are three possible suspects that may have been responsible.
A captivating story told from the POV's of the three protagonists with the occasional police interview of the three and a few others thrown in for context . The lives of the three are all interconnected in some way and my suspicions changed with each police interview.
I really enjoyed the mystery behind this one and the way the plot developed. Not all the characters are likeable and that added to mystery. The writing is solid and the execution is a slow burning character study. The ending was a satisfying conclusion and a little surprising as well. I like a thriller that keeps me guessing throughout and this one did that. I recommend this one to those who enjoy thoughtful Nordic Noir and good storytelling.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me an ARC through NetGalley to read, review and enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy, for my voluntary and free review. I must say this book truly surprised and delighted me. Lots of books go from different points of view for each main character, but M.T. Edward son took that concept to another level and ran with it. In a great way! Fantastic characters and storyline that kept me guessing the entire read. Be ready for a twist! Definitely recommend and will be searching for other novels by this author.

Never underestimate what desperation can do to a person and allow them to justify which actions. When there are clear signs of this struggle, it is easy to see what could happen next. Because what else can you lose hen there is nothing left.

Hatred and jealousy are best friends of each other. They are significant motivators in dire times. It will make you friends with your worst enemy and wipe away all honesty. Because seeing others waste away what you can give everything to have, rises that bile in your stomach.

And why am I writing such sentences as if I’m going start my own story? You’ll see when you read this book. All of the above is hidden in person and/or persons ready to be burst out.

I love a mystery with different POVs and something that really keeps you guessing until the end – and that is what you get with #thewomaninside book by MT Evardsson. I read this @celadonbooks bookclub read organized by @booksandcoffeemx. It was such fun and thank you both for including me on this tour.

💫Synopsis💫

A wealthy couple is murdered in a very nice part of town – but who has done it and why?

👨‍👧We hear the POV from Bill Olsson, recently widowed, has huge debts, can’t hold onto a job, and he is left to care for his eight-year-old daughter Sally.

💎We see the wealthy couple – the husband is a doctor and controlling; the wife is sickly, holds the key to millions, and no one understands why she doesn’t seem to get better;

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for a copy of this arc!

👩‍⚖️Karla - renting a room from Bill and a student studying law; she has been hired to clean the wealthy couple’s house as a way to earn cash; she sees things that make her wonder what is really going on with the wife and the husband;

💃🏻Jennica – single and looking for love and is the much younger love interest of one of the main characters.

🔎Who has killed the couple; why? How are all of these people connected?

💫My take💫

If you like a locked room mystery you will enjoy the ride of this book.
It’s a fun read interspersed with interviews with the police of various minor characters which makes it interactive and fun. Well-written with a very unexpected twist. Great beach read!

The Woman Inside by Edvardsson released June 2023 and I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy from NetGalley. This book is about Bill, his young daughter Sally and a boarder they take in named Karla. Bill and Sally are reeling from the death of his wife and her mother Miranda just shortly before all this and Bill has Karla move in as a form of extra income.

Karla is struggling with putting her life together and studying law. She also works as a housecleaner for Steven and Regina Rytter. She knows something is wrong in the household, but can't quite put her finger on it.

Also in this story is Jennica, a woman who is having an affair with Steven Rytter, but also has a link to Bill's past. All of these people will collide over very extreme circumstances.

So, I don't like to give anything else away, but here are my two cents. The book moved very quickly and I got to the point where I was itching to get back to it when I wasn't reading, especially as I got closer to the end. I was excited to see the connection between all the characters come together and find out what was going on. However, for me, the ending kind of left me underwhelmed. I thought the author was leading me up to a jaw dropper, but it never seemed to happen. HOWEVER, I did enjoy the story and reading how everything came together. Honestly, it may make a good movie.

I have another book by this author on my to read list, which I didn't realize until I was finished this one. I really appreciate this opportunity by NetGalley and am sending thanks to them and the publisher.

I read A Nearly Normal Family years ago and absolutely loved it. The Woman Inside was an okay read. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. The main thing I wish about this story was that the ending was not rushed as quickly as it had been.

The Woman Inside is about a wealthy couple, Steven and Regina, who are found murdered and the events that precede it. It is narrated by 3 people, Bill, Karla and Jennica. All are mixed up in each other’s business. My main issue was that I couldn’t keep any of the characters straight… Most books I read have multiple POV’s so i’m not sure what my issue was with this one. Maybe I didn’t connect enough with the characters or I just wasn’t invested enough in the story. The ending also left me with some questions. it felt a little abrupt to me.

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

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy in exchange for honest review! I really enjoyed it! I got a hard copy so i can annotate!

I really loved that the book had multiple POVs! I loved short chapters! Loved all the drama. Every chapter was twisty and fun!


I definitely went through all the emotions! I was super mad at some of the character. The decisions they are making..i was like wowwww! I’m talking about you Bill! lol But my favorite parts are the relationship he had with his daughter! That was precious!! :)
Don’t get me started on steven - he really pissed me off! who does that?? why would you say your wife died? I could not believe he played that girl so hard. Wow! I got so mad during his chapters. Ugh! lol

I really hate the cheating trope but this worked out okay! It had a interesting ending. I love Karla character.. she was alert and i’m glad she did her research and tried to help. If you know you know! I recommend this one! It’s my first time reading from this author but I will definitely keep an eye out for more!