A standalone novel, The Wife You Know (2024) by Chad Zunker is a thriller about a missing wife and her mysterious past. Ashely becomes a social media hit when she rescues children from their burning child centre. She is hospitalised for smoke inhalation and some burns, but decamps during the night, taking her three-year-old daughter with her. Her husband, Luke Driskel a tech entrepreneur is worried but cannot find any trace of Ashley, nor comprehend why she vanished. As he begins to make inquiries and even offers a reward for information, Luke realises there are things about Ashley’s former life which he has no idea of. His investigation kicks off a trip across various American states, trying to understand who the woman he married is or really was. It’s an enjoyable enough thriller if somewhat proforma with its surprising twists and tension that makes it a three and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

The Wife You Know is a thrilling mystery that challenges what a man believes about what he knows about his wife.

Ashley is out running an errand when she drives by a day care center that is on fire. Desperate to know that all the children have gotten out safely, Ashley parks her car and looks inside. She sees scared children, so she finds something to break the window and climb inside to rescue them. Only after she is positive that she got them all out, she then climbs out the same window to safety.

Luke Driskell has just landed after a business trip when he is able to check his messages. His wife Ashley has left a message for him that she is headed to the hospital, and she thinks she is okay, there was a fire, and to call as soon as he gets the message. He rushes to his car and calls Ashley, but she doesn't answer. He locates the number to the nearest hospital and learns his wife is indeed a patient but won't reveal any details. But she tells him that his wife is a hero. There's a video of it all over social media.

When he arrives at the hospital, Luke finds the Dr. waiting for him and discusses Ashley's condition. When he gets to her room he feels better after seeing her. Ashley is more concerned about the safety of their daughter Joy. She pleads with him to go pick her up and take her home. Joy is three and very happy to see Luke. They go home and to bed. Luke wakes the next morning to a phone call from the doctor asking about Ashley because she left against medical advice. Luke goes to check on Joy but finds her missing also. He tries repeatedly to call Ashley who is not answering her phone.

Luke will go on a dangerous hunt to find his missing family, but the more he searches he wonders if they want to be found.

This was a fascinating mystery about a missing woman and her child. It was intense right from the beginning with the story going in many directions. I was able to read it in just a few short hours. I enjoyed this story very much.

Wow, this was a wild ride! The story picks up speed from the first page and does not brake until the end. It was a quick read with only 205 pages, however it could easily have been longer. The plot is quite unbelievable, but nonetheless a lot of fun. The ending was not what I expected, yet I liked it anyway. This book would totally make a great mini-series, I can see that ending in my mind's eye.

This was a really captivating book! I loved how the whole story unraveled, there were so many layers to the story. Some parts felt a little far-fetched at times but it all came together and made sense. I also loved the ending! Thank you to Net Galley and Chad Zunker for the opportunity to read this ARC.

If you're ready for a story that is pretty engaging despite really straining credulity, this is a good one. It's a fast paced story (and pretty short) with a premise that easily engages, but there are a lot of actions that make very little sense, a bonkers reveal, and the ending isn't particularly satisfying after the journey.

I am all about face paced books and this one was action packed! I like Zunker's writing style, it really pulls me in to the story. Sure, the MMC of the story did some wild and stupid things to move the plot along, but I overlooked it because I was so engrossed in the story. The man just wanted to find his wife and step daughter!
I think the ending was lackluster, and it feels like this book could be the start of a series with how it ended.

A newly wed couple are still enjoying the honeymoon stage, full of love, until the wife goes missing and the husband, Luke, does everything he can to find his missing wife. However, while doing so, he quickly realizes everything he knows about her isn't true, and the wife he loved so much, he actually doesn't really know at all.
I really enjoyed the short chapters it helped me feel more engaged and wanting more. It had a good quick beginning and then started slowing down in the middle, but it picked right back up towards the end at a rapid pace!
One thing that irked me at the beginning was why did Luke not immediately go to the police? If you are so in-love and concerned about your wife, why is your first thought not to run to the police? I did have a hard time connecting to any of the characters, especially Luke, who overall felt very out of touch, but overall I enjoyed the story!
I am excited to read more from Chad Zunker!

A Very Puzzling Missing Person Case

While driving by a school, Ashley Driskell sees an explosion followed by a mass of flames. She stops and helps all the children out of the classroom. She even enters the classroom to check. She exits through the window and collapses on the lawn. She sees all the people with cell phones. She now wonders if she had just done something to expose herself. When her husband, Luke, visits her in the hospital, she makes him promise not to talk with the press. Luke wakes up to a call from the hospital asking him to bring Ashley back to the hospital. The only problem is that she is not home, and her daughter is gone, too. From this start, Luke starts his search.

There is only one main storyline thread. From the start, Luke believes something is wrong. Ashley is not answering his calls. An FBI agent who turns into a stalker. His home is robbed by a thief who knows where his hidden safe is located and the combination. Besides himself, only Ashley knew those two pieces of information. Luke finds something that Ashley had hidden and forgotten to take. This is the first twist that affects the rest of the novel. As the beginning is a little chaotic, it takes time for Luke to map out a course of action. Once this occurred, my interest was captured. The tension is maintained by someone who will kill to find Ashley. The pace of the novel is fast. As Luke was the only narrator, it was easy to follow.

The background on Luke and Ashley is quite extensive. Most are provided by an extensive use of flashbacks by Luke and are rich in detail. A drunk driver killed Luke’s parents, and he was raised by his grandfather, whose parenting skills were poor to none. Professionally, he built a software company in Palo Alto, CA. He was so involved with his job that he blamed himself for the death of his first wife and their unborn child. This depth helped me see Luke as a sympathetic character and facilitated my enjoyment of reading this novel.

The aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading are almost non-existent in this novel. There are no intimate scenes. There are no vulgar or impious words and a few rude words. The deaths are described after the fact. Only one fight occurred, but it was relatively low-key. I believe that everyone can read this novel and not find anything objectionable.

There are a few issues that I had reading this novel. First, even if Luke was not a suspect, he repeatedly blew off an FBI Special Agent whose only reaction was to raise his voice, which seemed too low-key. Second, the discovery by Luke that I reference above as the first twist just pressed my believability that she would have kept them. There is one other, but it would be a spoiler, and it will not be difficult to see after reading the novel. I really enjoyed how the author left literary breadcrumbs at every stop that Luke went in search of Ashley. It was one of the reasons that kept my interest throughout my reading of the novel.

I have read three previous novels from this author. He has solidified my ranking as a Must-Read author. I enjoyed reading this novel. If reading the teaser for this book appears interesting to you, I do recommend reading it. I am looking forward to reading the next novel by this author. I rate it with four stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

I found this story to be a very solid read. While the prose was simplistic, and certain parts of Luke's character felt wholly unrealistic, I did enjoy the ride. Honestly, most of the characterizations in here felt shallow to me. It just also happens that all of said qualms involve things I feel inclined to suspend my disbelief on, because of the nature of the promised story. If you are most interested in character driven stories, this probably isn't the book for you.

That said, I flew through this book.

The Wife You Know has a slow ramp up of tension, steady pursuit of the mystery, and an action packed conclusion. While I don't believe this story will stay with me long, not all books need to. It's a very fun, quick romp,

I do think it's important that you come into this book not planning to take it too seriously. It's a fun time but not one that I think is intended to hold up to critical scrutiny.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

An entertaining albeit implausible and trope-y thriller that's nicely paced. Luke discovers, too late, that there's more to his new wife Ashley than he knew. Now she's missing, along with her daughter, but why? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a popcorn read perfect for the beach.

The wife you know is a tense, compelling book up until the very end - well, almost. For all its great tense moments, the ending failed to live up to the thrill it was set to deliver for me. I loved the story and enjoyed every bit of info on Ashley and Luke and the life they led. Everything leading up to Ashley's disappearing act and even till the last but few chapters was a thrill chase for me. This book was a page turner for sure. But something about the end felt rushed, and like taking an easy way out. Throughout the book I had come to expect twisted but engaging stuff which the end was definitely not. Overall I enjoyed this book but tgat ending could definitely have been much better.
Thank you Netgalley, Chad Zunker & Thomas and Mercer for the arc!

A quick thriller with a fast paced plot, short chapters, and a first person POV. Although the writing was a bit simplistic and I felt there were a few plot points that seemed a bit too implausible. But if you can set aside your sense of reality for an afternoon, it's a quick read that could easily be made into an action movie.

After a brave rescue, a woman disappears without explanation. Her husband works to unravel the truth and finds out he didn’t really know his wife at all. This was a quick and engaging read. It left you guessing till the end!

The story is one of mystery. It starts off slow, heats up a little, then a lot, finishing with a climatic ending. The writing style was interesting and I felt like you could put the puzzle/story together, Was a great book.

Oo wow... this one was a thriller of a novel! I was immediately drawn into the beginning and the characters that came alive on the pages. Definitely had lots of suspense and drama and I am a big fan of the writing. My first read by Chad Zunker and it was a success!

I liked this book a lot. It was a quick and easy binge read for me. The only thing I didn’t really like was I thought the ending was far fetched. Still a very good book!

Brilliant mystery. It is one of the most gripping and unputdownable suspension thrillers. Shocking twists, secrets, and mystery throughout the book keeps you hooked until the end. Short, pointy chapters with Luke's point of view are fantastic. Read it in just one day. I couldn't stop reading. I was on edge the whole time. Highly recommended. Would read more by the author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Widower Luke Driskell didn’t expect to fall in love and marry again so quickly. But Ashley and her daughter, Joy, are special—a quality borne out when Ashley rushes into a burning day-care center to save the children. Immediately she’s a social media sensation and hero. Then, just as suddenly, Ashley and Joy disappear into the bitterly cold night.
With no trace of their whereabouts, Luke begins a panicked investigation. Alarmingly, he can find no proof that the woman he loves even exists. Left behind: just a hidden stash of fake IDs. Different names. Different cities. Same haunted face. Now the devastated husband has only questions: Who did he marry? What is she hiding?
Luke’s cross-country pursuit of the truth soon spins into something more dangerous than he imagined. Because Ashley’s secrets run so deep and dark that finding her could threaten all their lives.
What a read it was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me an advance copy.

I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Fast-paced suspenseful mystery that kept me engaged throughout. Loved the ending!!! Definitely recommend.

This concise mystery is brimming with nail-biting suspense as a man embarks on a quest to locate his wife and step-daughter. Luke, a widower who has found love anew, enjoys success and wealth, residing in an enviable home in Vail, Colorado. Ashley contacts him from the hospital after a daring fire rescue disrupts her privacy. When she vanishes along with her daughter, Luke transitions from confusion to bewilderment and ultimately to frantic desperation. Determined to find them, he embarks on a relentless pursuit, questioning if his actions are inadvertently endangering Ashley. As he reaches out to the police and FBI, not everyone proves to be an ally. In a state of panic, Luke traverses the country, sensing he's being followed. The journey to locate Ashley is intense, bordering on implausible, yet for readers seeking escapism, this aspect is inconsequential. Ashley's clandestine past is intricately woven, keeping the reader guessing with a plot adorned by lies, deep secrets, and involvement of various agencies and characters. The unique characters contribute to an enjoyable storyline, and the digital advance reader copy of "The Wife You Know" by Chad Zunker, published by Thomas & Mercer, was provided through NetGalley