I was extremely overjoyed to be approved to review this title and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I was captivated by the story from the start when Finn and Jess learn that their father has been killed in Mallorca - leaving them to inherit their childhood home subject to the terms of a ‘usufructo’.
The only problem is that the ‘finca’ is occupied by their fathers new wife and step daughter.
The story begins to unfold through the narrative of Finn who travels to Mallorca to deal with the inheritance. He quickly becomes embroiled a tale of suspicion, lies and rumours.
I particularly enjoyed J P Delaneys use of ambiguity throughout and believe this is what will set this novel apart from others in its genre- the message that your truth is not always someone else’s.
‘What matters is not so much what actually happened as who one chooses to believe’
I know who I believed pretty much from the start and can’t wait to hear whose truth other readers will accept.
I also can’t not mention the undertones of Daphne Du Maurier’s ‘My Cousin Rachel’. As Du Maurier is one of my all time favourite authors this really won me over and added even more to the mystery and atmosphere. I would highly recommend this book!

This was a bit hard for me to get into, I thought this had quite a slow start and build up. However once the plot got going I really enjoyed this and thought the storyline and characters were engaging. I loved the thrilling and suspenseful atmosphere that was filled with twists and I especially thought the ending was amazing and this went out with a bang. This is perfect for a summer read.

I found this a slow starter and struggled to get into it until the last half. There is a good plot and an interesting set of characters but it took me longer than usual to start to feel engaged.

Finn and his sister Jess learn of the death of their father, an alcoholic lothario living in Majorca with his latest wife and her daughter. Finn offers to travel there to meet them and ensure they leave the property and get it ready to sell. Far from that Finn falls for Roze, his step sister, and the tragic events from here lead to an unexpected ending.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great read, I read it over a weekend. Really beautiful setting, well described and easy to get lost in. I love the conflict between the characters, and the conflict as a reader not knowing who to trust. Good twists throughout, leading to a strong ending.

I really enjoyed this book. A story that is layered, clever and thrilling. Following Finn, returning to Spain after his father's death to xlsim his inheritance, he is immediately struck by his step sister and soon becomes obsessed. He decides to stay in Spain and becomes more and more involved with his step family. Whilst at the same time, questions their story of his fathers death and their history. What at first appears to be a simple story of a man wronged and duped by women, is soon turned on its head, unveiling a man with a history of praying and stalking women. I read this in a day. A great read.

Really enjoy JP Delaneys books and I read recently that it’s a pseudonym for an author that has previously published under their own name - so I keep guessing as I read who it could be!

As I was reading I kept thinking this seems a bit predictable so loved the twist (won’t give anything away!). It did then seem to descend into a bit of madness but reflecting now I’ve finished and read the author notes it does make sense. It then seemed to end quite quickly and maybe there were more questions left to be answered!

Will be a perfect summer read!

This latest publication distinguishes itself from the other thrillers by this author and is undoubtedly up there with my favourites by him. This is a captivating and intriguing read, telling a story of obsession, inheritance, and unreliable characters. Delaney's new style was thoroughly enjoyable, and I could complete it in a few sessions.

It was difficult to decide whose perspective I trusted because of the unpredictable plot and surprising twists. Even after reading the conclusion, I am unsure.

The developing situation between Roza and Finn had me completely engrossed. I will refrain from disclosing any information that may ruin the surprise.

The book is well-suited for book club discussions, or as a summer holiday read. I strongly recommend this 5-star rated book and recommend pre-ordering today!

I recommend JP Delaney to anyone who listens, his books are just EXCEPTIONAL! The twists and turns, the guessing what happens next and constantly wondering. I cannot express how much I recommend this book, I don't want to spoil it but you will not see it coming!

Wow! This was a phenomenal read! The best book I’ve read this year!! Delaney goes from strength to strength with every new book they bring out! Do yourself a favour and take this book on holiday with you - I imagine the pairing of being somewhere hot and peaceful will go wonderfully with reading the enticing descriptions of life at the Finca!

Finn’s estranged father has passed away in Spain and he goes to the house to claim what he feels belongs to him and his sister. His dad has been married three times and he has not yet met this wife who he ends up being very impressed with. The wife and her daughter have have a secret and Finn decides to help them. It’s a twisty tale which becomes a bit unbelievable at times but is enjoyable enough.

I’m an admirer of Daphne du Maurier, so I really appreciated the Author’s Note at the end which explained how one of her works - I won’t say which! - inspired this perfect summer read. Even the setting is ideal for summer: the beautiful Mallorquí coast. I could almost taste the oranges. I can’t say too much without drifting into spoiler territory, but I will say this: another cracking psychological thriller from JP Delaney.

Set in Mallorca, the author evokes the feeling of living in the country- I really felt like I was there. The story involves two siblings with an inherited finca- the problem is...their late father's widow and her daughter still live there. And was their fathers death a tragic accident or murder.
I love to second guess a twist but I actually got it wrong. It felt a bit slow to start with but the ending was worth sticking with it.

I've had a mixed history with JP Delaney's books; I've really enjoyed a couple, but didn't like The Girl Before, which is perhaps his best known. Anyway, I wasn't sure what to expect from the uninspiringly titled The New Wife, but it was quite an evocative and intriguing read, set on the island of Mallorca.

Finn is our narrator, returning to his childhood home on Mallorca after his father's death. Childhood memories of a chaotic life in a run-down property with his dissolute, alcoholic artist father aren't great. But he and his sister Jess have, at least, now inherited the remote finca, accessible only via a terrifying sounding road. There are potential flies in the ointment, though, in the shape of his father's newly acquired third wife, Ruensa, and her daughter Roze. What Finn finds on arrival, however, isn't quite what he expects. Indeed, everyone may be getting more than they bargained for.

The setting is atmospheric and the characters nicely ambiguous. Who can be trusted?

It all went a bit nuts towards the end, and I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. Ultimately, we're left with rather more questions than answers. But an enjoyable read nevertheless.

I found this book gripping, I read it in just over a day. Although it was a slow burn it drew me in as I was wondering what the truth was, what the character's intentions were. I didn't see the twist near the end coming, I didn't feel the ending quite fitted though. It seemed out of character for that person.

After reading the authors previous works, I found this a bit of a slower burn but omg the twists and turns were incredible! Once you get stuck in then you find yourself racing to the end to get some kind of answers but instead you are just faced with this constantly changing narrative as more things are revealed! By the final quarter, I couldnt put it down and had absolutely no clue what to expect next. This is the perfect psychological thriller

JP dazzles with yet another thrilling page turner that leaves you rushing to the end. A bit of a slow burn compared to some of his previous novels, the twists and turns and building of the characters more than make it for it. Don’t miss out on this one!

4+

Siblings Finn and Jess learn their father has died and it’s not a cause of sorrow. The pair will inherit the Mallorcan finca their father has lived in with his third wife Ruensa and her daughter Roze. Finn agrees to travel to the Balearic Islands, partly out of curiosity to meet wife number three, but principally to stake their claim to the finca. What follows on this beautiful island takes a distinct path to uncertainty.

First of all, JP Delaney always writes easy to read and very enjoyable novels, this one centres around the thorny issue of inheritance. However, it goes way deeper than that with a central premise being who is the hunter, who the prey as an unpredictable cat and mouse game ensues. What is so clever about this one is your suspicion flip-flops from one direction to another and you have no idea who is truthful, unreliable and who is a secretive liar. There are some very odd incidents that throw you off the scent as we encounter manipulation in order to conceal true motives. At times, it’s sinister with the rising Mallorcan heat adding to the building tension. As back stories emerge, again, this adds to the misgivings and speculation. There are some very good twists, especially towards the end and these are very surprising. Well played Mr Delaney! I especially like the surreal moments as the novel reaches its conclusion where you have no clue what’s real and what’s not and I love the uncertainty. The ambiguous ending perfectly matches, the narrative and I really like it.

The setting on Mallorca is fantastic and is used to great effect, especially at suspenseful moments. The location of the finca in the mountains gives a vertiginous sensation especially the drive up. Yikes! It’s rich in atmosphere and is described very well and you feel as if you are on the island.

Overall, I think this is a stellar, absorbing page turner and it’s well worth reading the authors note at the end. I think he’s done the inspiration justice.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

"My generation are sometimes mocked for talking about 'my truth' rather than 'the truth' - an easy habit to criticise, but one which accepts, perhaps, that, in a world where so many different versions of the facts are constantly available, it matters not so much what actually happened as who one chooses believe."

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - JP Delaney is an absolute master of suspense.

This one was a little different than his usual deeply psychological thrillers — more quiet, slow, less about the shock reveals and more about the subtle and silent cues and the thoughts going on. I love seeing this progression in the authors style but at times I did find the pacing quite slow throughout. It did pick up quickly as we approached the big reveal, but I found that while I didn't see it coming, it also wasn't hinted at really throughout so the satisfaction wasn't quite there for me as much as usual.

The setting was excellent, a beautifully unsuspecting backdrop of sun and sea that harshly contrasts with the secrets and lies that start to cast their shadows. Greed, lust, anger, despair, grief, desperation — every character is a complex mix of big emotions which gives the reader a strange feeling as all these feelings are invoked but we know all our characters are hiding something, not letting us know exactly who to suspect.

In between a suspicious death and an ever-growing mystery, an entire tapestry is made that delves into family politics, war, immigration, extortion and relationships - a complete snapshot of a moment in these peoples lives and the many complicated parts that make up who they are. These many strands slowly come together in a feverish, desperate fervour before it all starts to fall apart in the most disastrous ways.

A highly entertaining and thrilling read perfect for the summer, although it might make you lock your doors one more time.

I have loved all of JP Delaney’s other books, so was especially excited to read this new one.
It didn’t disappoint and is a great psychological thriller.
The setting is atmospheric and creepy and the characters are intriguing and dark.
Like other books by this author, the writing style is very unique, but engaging.
A great read and one that I’d definitely recommend.

I've read and enjoyed some of JP Delaney's earlier thrillers, but The New Wife felt like a big, and interesting, change of pace. Finn and his sister grew up in Mallorca on a decaying finca, but after an abusive childhood, both of them left in their teens and haven't looked back. Now their father has died and they've inherited the finca - but their father's new wife, Ruensa, is still living there with her adult daughter Roze. Finn travels to Mallorca to sort out the legalities, but is stunned by what he finds - Ruensa and Roze have transformed the finca and its grounds, planning to set it up as a functioning agrotourism spot and a hostel for hikers. Moreover, he's immediately attracted to Roze, who draws him in with her mix of lightheartedness, practicality, and fragility. But was it really a coincidence that Finn's father died so shortly after his marriage? And will Ruensa and Roze give up their fledging business so easily?

Early on in this novel, I recognised the parallels with Daphne du Maurier's unforgettable My Cousin Rachel, and indeed this is an influence that Delaney explicitly acknowledges in the afterword. While, of course, The New Wife can't compete with du Maurier's classic, Delaney does capture some of its beauty and menace, gorgeously evoking his Mallorcan setting. As with Rachel in the du Maurier novel, we both want Roze to be what she seems and fear that she isn't - Delaney makes it completely convincing that Finn would be entranced by her against his better judgment. A late twist is effective, but I did feel that, unlike My Cousin Rachel, The New Wife then leans a little too hard into one interpretation of the characters, despite Delaney's efforts to keep the ending open. Du Maurier said that she deliberately never made up her mind about Rachel's true motives; Delaney admits, in his afterword, that he does know what Roze was about. Nevertheless, this is an original thriller that moves away from the familiar territory of Delaney's earlier work: I'd place it next to Lottie Moggach's Under The Sun and Sabine Durrant's Lie With Me. Perfect summer reading.