This was definitely a fast paced book, but it just did not live to the thrill I thought it would be. It was just a goose chase and didn't see much of the wife. Also it did not feel like it was for a mature audience.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

At first I was excited to start the book, however it just turned into a wild goose chase with a rich (and arguably tone-deaf) husband. The story centered around him and talking to the reader. How can such a short book be so repetitive? Will he ever stop asking the reader questions?
I really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately, just wasn’t for me. This was my first book by this author and honestly probably my last.
It seemed a little chaotic, yet underwhelming? All at the same time.
I kept waiting for the twists, but they just never came. We just kept throwing in new characters and describing details that served no part in the plot. The writing style and dialogue felt amateur and almost forced, which in turn just made the entire story feel pretty hard to come off as believable.
The wife in the story really doesn’t have much part in it at all, I wish there would’ve been more from her and her perspective, or something to make me care about her character. I didn’t feel any real connection to the characters overall.

1.5 stars rounded for being a quick and easy read.

Luke and Ashley have not been married long, yet Luke loves his wife and his three-year-old stepdaughter, Joy, as if she were his own. They are happy until a video of Ashley breaking into a burning school building to save some preschoolers trapped inside a room goes viral.
Ashley disappears, taking her daughter, leaving no information for Luke on where she has gone or why. Determined to get answers, Luke launches his own investigation to seek answers to his questions.
What danger does Ashley fear? Will he ever see his family again?
The book is written in the first person past tense PoV of Luke Driskell.
In the first few chapters, Luke went all hard-sell on Ashley, painting a picture of a kind, young woman, whose was all heart. But it was all Too Much Information, and it did nothing to endear her to me.
Luke, on the other hand, came across as a easygoing and nice person. Of course, I could have done without the flashbacks to his childhood.
I found it distasteful how, at one point, during his investigations, Luke introduces himself to an old landlady of Ashley’s as her brother. Couldn’t he have said best friend instead?
Again he goes on to tell her that he is estranged from his sister, then a few minutes later, offers to show the landlady pictures of his supposed niece. How did he get those pictures if the two ‘siblings’ are estranged from each other?
The story needed tighter editing. The flashbacks were detailed and mostly unrequired. I was interested in the story only so far as it concerned Luke. Ashley inspired no positive feeling in me. I didn’t care about her at all.
There should have been more scenes with the child to give us an opportunity to see Ashley as a mother, and generally more scenes with Ashley as well.
Luke’s detailed descriptions of his deprived childhood, the manner in which he proposed to Ashley, their dates, none of them were relevant to the story. The story lay in the present, and yet the author persisted in telling us far too much about the past.
Instead there should have been more scenes from Ashley’s point of view. The big reveal couldn’t hold my interest. Nor were the twists and turns exciting enough. I did feel that she could have taken him into confidence.
This one was a quick read, but not a memorable one.

The Wife You Know by Chad Zunker
Well, what a terrific find this book was. I have never read this author before but I love how quickly it sucked me in and how the whole book was written in first person of the main character Luke. It was very easy to follow and what I consider a very quick read.
Luke’s wife, Ashley and stepdaughter, Joy mysteriously go missing after she bravely rescues some kids from a burning preschool. The story is all over the news and social media along with a video of the daring rescue. Ashley has always been immensely private with her life and especially her past, even to Luke. After they disappear Luke begins his own investigation into what happened and eventually who his wife really is.
This story kept me hooked the whole way through. I will definitely look into other books by this author.

The wife you know was a thriller that made me feel like i was right in the book as an investigator. This book was awesome and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I do wish i got more of an ending, but overall it was a great read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Luke discovers that his new wife Ashley isn’t who she says she is after a heroic act goes viral and she goes missing. Can he learn her secrets and find her and her daughter before it’s too late?

I literally read this book in one sitting, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next! It has drama and twists and secrets and I loved it. Definitely add this one to your list ASAP!

This book was a quick, easy read. The story is a good idea in theory, but I felt it lacked details about the parts that made the wife’s disappearance more interesting. 2.5.

Another page turner from Chad Zunker. It’s well written, thrilling and impossible to put down. I highly recommend this book and every other book he has written.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the copy.

This was my first Chad Zunker book and it did not disappoint. I read the ARC on NetGalley in less than a day. It was a quick read that I did not want to put down.The book follows the story of Luke as he searches for his missing wife, Ashley, and stepdaughter, Joy. It is not only a thriller, but a story of true love and never giving up searching for the truth. I thought I had figured out the ending but the story kept building and giving more detail to surprise you until the last pages.

Soon after Ashley becomes known as a local hero, she and her daughter Joy vanish into thin air, leaving Ashley’s husband, Luke, in the dark. And there’s no proof that Ashley nor Joy ever existed.

The Wife You Know by Chad Zunker is a quick and easy read. If you like juicy stories about mysterious identities, a splash of world politics, and runaway spouses, this book is for you!
The story progresses quickly, and I liked how Luke goes about solving the mystery of his wife and step daughter. A wonderful story with a good plot and a satisfying ending. Four star rating. Thanks for this ARC, NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer!

"The Wife You Know" by Chad Zunker is an absolute thriller that I couldn't put down. The book's standout feature is its remarkably crafted characters, particularly Luke Driskell and Ashley. Luke's journey from a widower to a man unexpectedly finding love again is heartwarming, while Ashley's heroic act sets the stage for a narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns.
The relentless pace of the book hooks you from the first chapter, making it a true page-turner. The mystery surrounding Ashley's true identity and her sudden disappearance keeps you on edge throughout. The tension in Luke's search for her is palpable, leaving you guessing at every turn.
In a nutshell, "The Wife You Know" is a compelling and intense read. With its well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, and exploration of complex themes, this suspenseful story captivates you from start to finish. Chad Zunker has masterfully woven a tale of love, mystery, and danger that will keep you at the edge of your seat until the very last page. Highly recommended for fans of gripping thrillers.

This is a must read for domestic thriller lovers! My mind and heart were racing every step of the way. Chad has a unique writing style that was very easy to follow but also made me feel like this book was real life. I'm a fan!

Great plot, fast paced storyline. I really enjoy a wife gone missing story! A great read for anyone that loves a good mystery with CIA & FBI involved. You don’t have much time to really invest in the characters because it’s so fast paced but it’s hard to put down. This is a great one, especially
If you have a few hours to yourself and want a quick mystery to read with a very interesting ending!

The Wife You Know will suck readers into a face paced novel that will twist and turn you through lies and relationships and will leave everyone guessing to the very end. This book is a perfectly crafted psychological thriller and my first read from Chad Zunker, but will not be my last. My only regret is not reading this book alongside my book club to discuss Luke, Ashley, and Joy as the plot unraveled.

The Wife You Know is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of love, trust, and the dark secrets that can lurk beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect relationship. I give it 4 stars, and here's why:

One of the best features of this book are its well-crafted characters. Luke Driskell, a widower who unexpectedly finds love again, and Ashley, the woman who becomes the love of his life, are both portrayed with depth and authenticity.

The story's premise is both unique and thrilling. Ashley's heroic act in saving children from a burning daycare center sets the stage for a narrative that takes unexpected twists and turns. The pace of the book is relentless, and it's a page-turner from the very first chapter. The mystery surrounding Ashley's true identity and her sudden disappearance keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the story.

The uncertainty and tension surrounding Luke's search for Ashley are palpable. As he jumps deeper into her past, I was on the edge of my seat, not knowing which way Luke would ultimately go.

In summary, The Wife You Know is a compelling and intense read. The well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, and the exploration of complex themes make it a book that's hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving my honest opinions and thoughts on this read!

What a great psychological thriller. Chas Zunker certainly knows how to keep the reader on the edge of the seat. I could not put this book down. How can you be married to someone only to find out that the person does not exist? Who are they really and what happened in their past that they have to keep hidden?
When Luke's wife Asley and his step-daughter Joy leave without warning Luke is determined to find them. When he comes across a file of fake ID's he realises that he has no idea of who his wife really is and what he will discover if he manages to find them.
The reader is immersed from the very beginning to the very last page. This has to be one of my favourite books I have reviewed this year and look forward to more by this author.

The Wife You Know
by Chad Zunker
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas, and Mercer for the opportunity to read this arc.
Everything he knows about his wife is called into question when she mysteriously vanishes in a breathtaking novel of suspense by Amazon Charts bestselling author Chad Zunker.Absolutely fantastic plot! Had to read this one in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read this arc!

What a wild ride this story was from beginning to end! I finished it in just a few hours, it was hard to put down. When Luke’s wife goes missing, he will stop at nothing to find her and his stepdaughter. It was a quick read with lots of action that kept me hanging on the edge of my seat!

I really enjoyed this page turner and read it in 2 days! Knew something was off about Ashley from the first page but I would never have imagined where the story was actually going to go. Would have liked it delving into a little bit more but a good story nonetheless.

This was my first time reading this author but I’ll be looking for more of his books for sure.

This was a quick read that really sucks you in right from the beginning. I read it in one day start to finish, thanks to the short chapters and a rather like able main character, Luke. I would have liked more of Ashley’s character as well though.

If you like a fast paced mystery that ties in the FBI, CIA, some global politics, and a little romance, this is a good one for you.