I really loved this book! The cover hand me hooked at first sight, but just the first chapter alone reeled me in. Excellent character development, twists that were unexpected, but easy to follow, and a great, original plot were just a few of the things I appreciated about this read.

This book was beyond what I was expecting. I couldn't stop myself and kept listening till the end. It was the first book I've ever read of the author but I'm regretting to never read any work of his sooner. It was too suspensive till the end , it will keep you in chokehold and will not let you go.
Thank you net galley and Daniel Hurst for giving me an ARC of the book to listen.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was so bingeable, I finished it in one day. This is a domestic thriller and the premise sounds like most others. A cheating husband moves his family to a small village. Suspiciously the village his mistress moved to six months ago. Will his wife find out about the affair? Is he actually a good doctor? Will everyone’s secrets stay hidden?

I love the dual POV hearing everyone’s thoughts… and secrets. I promise this is not a cookie cutter thriller. You won’t be able to put this one down.

I really enjoyed the way the narrators "acted" their reading. They were great!

The dual POV in this book enables the reader to get to know better each character through their actions and thoughts. I truly enjoyed the possibility of having both perspectives.

I really liked the village description at the beggining, they were really good to set an ambiance and to allow the reader to feel as a witness of the story. Besides, a little village with a beach and wonderful views is always nice to imagine.

The mistery of what each character was planning had me listening non-stop to discover what would happen.

I must admit that towards the ending there were some twists that felt unnecesary to me. I would have liked a few more details on the first two twists instead of extra twists. The pace was really captivating but towards the ending it all felt a little rushed. However, all in all I enjoyed the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me a copy of this audiobook.

I received an advanced copy of this book and it was one of my favorite ARC's so far this year.

I love a good domestic thriller but they tend to follow the same patterns. I loved that this story revealed so much in the beginning to let the reader in on what was happening, yet still provided a few twists. Fern was such a strong character, knowing her worth rather than blaming herself for her husband's infidelity, yet still slightly disturbed. Fern's scheming was so intoxicating and pulled the reader in with her. The story provides multiple POVs and traverses between the present and the past, to artfully lay out a great thriller.

I found the first and second twist to be slightly predictable, but it was still done in a way that made it interesting and I wanted to listen faster to hear how it turns out, while not wanting the story to end. The final twist was a good one that got me so hyped up.

Overall the structure of the story made this a standout in the domestic thriller category and I definitely recommend.

Another great thriller by Daniel Hurst! Fern and Drew are married and she finds out about his affair. They move so he can be closer to Alice, the girl he's sleeping with. Fern is testing Drew to see what happens. Meanwhile, we get to about half way-3/4 of the book and what you think you knew turns out to be something else entirely. Typical Daniel Hurst fashion! Also though the ending was a little predictable but still a good book.

This book was so much fun. It’s listed as a thriller and it did have that quality but I’d add dark comedy too. The two main characters were awful, laughably so.

Drew is fun to hate. Excuse me, DOCTOR Drew.
Fern is also despicable just more cat-like about it.

I listened to the audiobook version. Narrated quite successfully by Sarah Durham and David Wayman. I typically listen to audiobooks at a sped up pace but this one I listened to at normal speed. I wanted it to last longer and listening to the subtleties of the narrators’ inflections added to my enjoyment.

This would be a great book for someone new to audiobooks to experience them done right.

Daniel Hurst has written a fast paced thriller. Not too many surprises but I was invested to see how it played out. I listened to it in one sitting.

One caveat, skip the epilogue. It was over the top and took this from a five star to a four star read.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Dr Drew and his wife, Fern seem like a perfect happy, rich and successful couple. But their marriage is fill with secrets and betrayals. Actually I did gambling with this book. Betrayal at marriage or relationship story is my big no no from my read. But the premise also promised my favourite theme, revenge. The author is new name for me and I am glad I gave this book a chance.

The writing is good and I like the storytelling stye. Told from two POV and dual timeline, this story still easy to follow. The pace is kinda slow for my usually choice but it gave me extra time to know the characters better. Actually both characters wasnt my favorite but their narrative intrigued me enough for engaging into their story till the end. I wish extra plot at the revenge part and less dragging narrative at early chapers. Some part of the plot feel unnecessary expecially the epilogue.

I am so lucky got chance to enjoyed this story between ecopy and audio version. I think narrators team doing good job. Their voices suited both characters age and personalities. The voice is clear and the pronunciation is clear. It help to imagine the story and make me finished it faster

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for provided my copy. All my opinions and thoughts are my own.

Whenever I see a new Daniel Hurst book i immediately pick it up. He writes such great, fast paced thrillers that are all entertaining and quick reads. This one is less of a mystery than others, with less shock value for sure but has a slow burn of tension build up that kept me interested throughout.

Told in dual POVs - that of Drew and his wife Fern, following along as they move from Manchester to Aberness each with their own secret and manipulative reasons. Each chapter has them confessing more and more and showing us how ugly these two are on the inside. If you are looking for a book with characters you can root for - this is not it. These are very unlikeabke characters but I promise it only adds to the tension of the story - you just can’t wait for them to get theirs.

This is a page turner you definitely need to pick up, it’s a quick read as it’s not overly complicated or bogged down with too many characters and overly descriptive text. There are not as many shocking twists as a typical Daniel Hurst book but it still had some good ones in it

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for the early copy to listen via Netgalley.

Another solid, Daniel Hurst thriller. This one seemed less "thrilling" to me most of the time but there were moments. I like when a book starts with a bang and with this one we know there will be a death. This story alternates between the POV of Fern, the doctor's wife, and Drew, the doctor. Everyone has secrets. And some of those secrets will be deadly.
Kept me interested the whole time. Story progressed at a good pace. There were a couple 'past' chapters interspersed but there wasn't a big reliance on past vs present timelines; mostly told in one timeline.

I thought the narrators were good as well. Their narration kept me interested in the story and I don't think this ever felt dull.

Fern's husband, Drew, is a charming doctor, and everybody trusts him... but her. He is not as respectable as he may seem. And the only reason she agreed to follow him in his move to a remote village was to get a new start... but he is still lying, and she is determined to make him pay.
This was such an entertaining page turner of a psychological thriller! It was a short read (less than 300 pages/8 hours), easily read in one sitting. When I thought I had predicted every twist, the author sends more my way. It was just as twisted as I liked them! I read both the ebook and the audio book, and the dual narration of the audio book was amazing!
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Doctor's Wife by Daniel Hurst
Narrated by Sarah Durham, David Wayman

It's very interesting the way this story is presented. Right off the bat you are allowed to know things that are usually revealed much later in the story. But that's the thing, this is less a mystery than it is a confession or more accurately, a not so humble brag. There is a lot of telling because both Fern and her husband Drew (that's Doctor Drew to anyone in earshot) are so very proud of their manipulations and secrets. If they can't tell anyone else of their "accomplishments", they will at least tell us.

Doctor Drew is a nasty piece of work and will justify his wrong doings all day long. But Fern isn't a paragon herself. Drew is handsome, charming, smart, while Fern is more of the type to fade into the background, doing all the right things a good wife should do. It's so easy for arrogant Drew to dismiss his wife while he focuses on his stalker-ish wants and needs. Drew has no idea how dumb he really is and how manipulative Fern can be.

We have dual POVs for a while and we also go back and forth with the timelines. Despite so much telling rather than showing, I enjoyed the story in a guilty pleasure kind of way. The people are despicable and unlikable and deserve what they get and the ending gives me hope that things go the way I want them too after the credits have run off the screen. The narration was perfect for this story. From the moment I heard Fern's voice I didn't like her, she seems to telegraph her devious way of thinking. These people are never going to accept responsibility for their horrible actions. They will be so very happy to tell you why everything is someone else's fault. Grab the popcorn and enjoy the comeuppances.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

This novel was so twisty, that I could not stop reading this one to find out what came next. Two spouses having an affair. One decides she wants to quit the affair and really try to work thing out with her husband. Drew is obsessed Alice and cannot let her go. He is so arrogant but well loved.
Alice moves out of the city and to a small town to try again with her husband. Drew tells his wife Fern, he wants to leave the city and spend more time with her living by the beach. They find a home and then we realize Drew moves to the town Alice moved too. Drew tries to convince Alice he moved for her and wanted to continue their affair.
Unbeknownst to Drew, Fern knows about his affair. What comes next is so delicious, wicked and crazy, that I could not wait to see what unfolded. This was my third novel by this author, and if you like a good psychological thriller I highly recommend Hurst.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and author Daniel Hurst for this advanced copy. Out January 31, 2023

Daniel Hurst, the king of twisted domestic suspense, returns following The Couple in the Cabin and The New Year's Party with his latest, THE DOCTOR'S WIFE —a wickedly twisted game of cat-and-mouse between two couples, where nothing is as it appears. Unreliable narrators.

Is The Perfect Marriage the Perfect Illusion? Can they trust one another?

WIFE: Pretty. Pleasant. Naive. Meek and mild. The seemingly perfect doctor's wife appears to be the victim. However, the opposite. Cold and calculating, and wants REVENGE.

HUSBAND: Charming. Narcissistic. Good-looking. A doctor. Money. A secret affair. The husband thinks his wife would never suspect. He has been so careful. Now he will have his mistress back, and he will have it all. Life could not be better. Little does he know what is to come.

Meet Fern and Drew Devine. Who is the psychopath?

From the city residing in Manchester, England now moving to a waterside home that overlooks Solway First, between England and Scotland. A quaint remote seaside village town, Arberness.

Drew, the doctor, was having an affair back in Manchester with Alice (who is married to Rory). She broke it off and moved with her hubby to this quaint village, Arberness. Rory is in IT and can work from anywhere.

Drew, the entitled doctor, decides he will follow Alice (without telling her). Sells their city house, buys this idyllic seaside home, and moves his wife, Fern, to try and rekindle his affair with Alice.

Of course, Alice is unhappy when she discovers he has followed her there. The nerve to invade her space—appalled. So maybe Drew's plan was not the best idea...you think? But he is persistent.

Fern is not happy moving from the city to the countryside. But Drew convinces her they can spend more time together as his patient load will be less. Yeah, right? However, it is all about what Drew wants, and he usually gets his way.

Well, that is about to change.

Alice tries to be happy in the new town with her hubby. She even gets involved with some community work with Alice and meets her hubby, Rory. She even invites them over for dinner.

Fern knows more than you think. Soon Drew wears down Alice, and their affair starts up again. He thinks Fern is unaware of his dirty secrets.

However, Alice has a plan of her own. It is well-planned and executed.

Now, who has the upper hand? Who is the mouse, and who is the cat? Predator or prey?

Drew has his secrets, and Fern has hers. How far will Fern go to keep her secrets? Never underestimate a woman.

Told from POVs Drew and Fern past and present and one month later. We get to hear from both sides.

The author cleverly pulls out a few more twists that will have your jaws dropping, and the final jab (Epilogue) adds a new cat-and-mouse game that will leave you wickedly smiling. How well do we know those closest to us?

THE DOCTOR'S WIFE crackles with dark energy— in the vein of Kaira Rouda's BEST DAY EVER (best dark humor), an addictive twisty domestic suspense of deception and betrayal that will destroy more than one marriage— more than one life.

An entertaining popcorn thriller, clever and disturbing—however, I wish it had a little more sarcastic dark humor. Even though I did not enjoy it quite as much as The Couple in the Cabin (his BEST, I have read thus far and Top books of 2022) and his recent holiday thriller, The New Year's Party; however, THE DOCTOR'S WIFE had no likable characters but was a fun, unpredictable twisty suspense.

I have recently discovered Daniel, enjoying his newsletters and books and making my way through his backlist with many audiobooks and e-books in between all my ARC and new releases.

If you enjoy US authors Kaira Rouda or Kimberly Belle, (or Freida McFadden, Miranda Rijks, K.L. Slater, and Valerie Keogh), give Daniel a whirl! Always fun to see what secrets lie behind marriages and closed doors.

I also enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Sarah Durham and David Wayman for an engaging performance for all voices.

Thanks to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC.

Blog review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 31, 2023
Jan 2023 Must-Read Books

After reading the summary and then seeing how The Doctor’s Wife began I had low expectations. It seemed like they put everything out there way too soon. I thought it was going to be predictable and boring. I could not have been more wrong.

Fern knows her husband Drew’s secret. He is having an affair. Drew even asks Fern to move so he can be closer to his mistress. Fern knowing what is going on still agrees to move with him. She had a plan in place and it was a plan I was not ready for.

The book starts a little slow, with a lot of explaining what we already know. Once it gets going, it does not stop until you close the book.

I do not want to discuss anything specific to the story. It was so good and unexpected you just have to experience it. Without any spoilers, there were two main parts that really blew me away. One was the ending. No way you will see that coming. The other was a “wink”. If you read the book you will know what I’m talking about, when that happened I yelled at the book.

The Doctor’s Wife is a book you will not want to miss!

The premise here was intriguing - what do you do when you know your spouse is cheating? And makes you follow that person to another city! I loved the idea of the setting being a small town - it’s very hard to hide things when everybody knows your business. I found the secondary characters to be quite charming. The ladies in the coffee club sounded like they would be a hoot. The friendly people at the pub? My kind of place. I just wish I connected more with the major characters. I struggled to get in to this story. It’s hard for me to enjoy reading about a MC who has no redeeming traits at all. Especially when they are not truly a “villain”. Drew was whiny and annoying. His sense of self-importance and self-confidence was way too high for a person like him. Sorry, not a character I wanted to keep reading about.
Goodreads Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2

The Doctor's Wife by Daniel Hurst and narrated by Sarah Durham and David Wayman was such a quick little read! I don't think I've ever read anything else by this author but I might look into some of his other works when I want something quick and entertaining.

It goes like this: we meet Fern and we meet Drew. Fern is getting accustomed to her new life in a small village after leaving behind all the hustle and bustle of her much more glamorous life in Manchester. Her husband Drew was the one that insisted on moving away from the busy city on the pretenses of wanting a much calmer doctor's practice in the province. This marriage is just covered in lies and we all know it as soon as we get to know the couple. The lies are oozing out and spreading all over. Who is a better liar? Who is the one to fear?

The book is written in the format of the alternating monologues/perspectives which I personally quite enjoy. I just loved to listen to this book about all these nasty liars and snakes. Honestly, this story was fun and it sucked me in! If you like Lucy Foley and Alice Feeney, you'll like this book.

The narrators did a fantastic job with the characters and the timing. I listened to the book at 1.75 speed and it was pretty fast but still easy to understand.
If you like Lucy Foley and Alice Feeney, you'll like this book!

Ok.. yes a great short story. Love that a lot. I wanted to be inside this inside two main characters to say what they should do.. why they did not see what I saw was an easy solution. But ok like life is not fair... somewthing in that spirit I accepted the story and I take it like that. Revenge is not my comfort theme but if you love you need to try this.

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for this opportunity

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start by saying that I thought the narrators of this book did a fantastic job! They were both clear and concise and very easy to listen to. The story I found interesting but very predictable. It was well written, there just wasn’t anything that made my jaw drop. I would still check out other books by this author because I enjoyed his writing style.