It was a nice read and had a few good plot twists but it felt very repetitive. It’s a quick thriller that you can easily get sucked into!

You think your in-laws are bad? Meet the Elmers.

Natalie's well aware her new husband Dominic's parents aren't happy about their marriage. His mother Ann-Marie and father Roger make their displeasure clear from the minute they arrive at their home to stay through the Christmas holidays. In their eyes, she isn't good enough for their son. They're a wealthy family who live on a large estate. Natalie simply owns a nail salon with no family to speak of but her brother. Then, of course, there's the fact that she was in the news a few years before she met Dominic for something horrible that she did. She knows they dislike her because of that more than anything else. Yet, Natalie smiles through their cold treatment of her and responds with compliments and warmth. She's determined to win them over.

But his parents aren't going to make it easy on her in any way, shape, or form. As she and Dominic settle into their room, Ann-Marie announces she's invited Dominic's first wife Carla to spend the holiday with them. His parents love Carla and still consider her part of the family. From the second she arrives, they treat her like royalty while treating Natalie like gum on the bottom of their shoes. It's clear to Natalie that Carla wants Dominic back. When Natalie catches the exes whispering to each other more than once, she wonders if Dominic doesn't want that too. However, when she realizes the entire family is whispering behind her back, she's convinced there's a plot to get rid of her as Dominic's wife so he and Carla can be together again. Someone in the family wants her dead, but who... and why? Natalie has no intention of going down without a fight. She's killed before. If she has to, she will again.

A fast moving, anxiety-inducing story with more twists than a corkscrew, "His Ex-Wife" by Maria Frankland is a beaut of a tale that's so gripping you can't read it fast enough. Prepare for your heart to get stuck in your throat (so to speak) and to skip over sentences and paragraphs as you read. Not because you're bored, mind you. But because you need to know what happens next -- and you can't wait one line longer. While you pick up the pace reading, the book picks up its pace too. It's so taut with suspense you forget to breathe in places. The characters are so vivid and multi-dimensional that you see and hear them in your mind. It's easy to picture Roger as the late Edward Herrmann and Ann-Marie as Christine Baranski.

Told from Natalie's first-person perspective for over half of the book, you'll swear as you read that "His Ex-Wife" is one of the greatest books you've read this year. The blurb of this book... The description given in this review... Neither do it justice because the storyline is only part of what makes it so amazing. It's the urgency and atmosphere that Natalie creates as the narrator. But then, it happens. Carla takes over as the narrator, and it feels like the book is slamming on its brakes. Gone is the quickening pace (although it's still moving along at a good clip). Also gone is the growing tension and suspense that came with Natalie's point of view. Carla's a different character, so of course her 'voice' and point-of-view are going to be different. While Carla's perspective is gripping and necessary to the telling of the story, it's snot as taut with tension and suspense as Natalie's. However, it's brilliant writing by author Maria Frankland that makes them stand out as such unique individuals.

"His Ex-Wife" is one for your TBR list. At just over 300 pages, you'll devour it in a few sittings if you don't read it all at once. It has everything psych thriller fans love: mystery, secrets, deceitful characters, and some creepy vibes (from Ann-Marie and Roger) to boot. Set in a snowstorm, it's nearly guaranteed to give you the chills.

What a twisted tale of holiday drama!
As I read the story I became more immersed in the murk and kept asking myself who has what dirt on whom?
If you think your holidays are ripe with drama, they probably can’t hold a candle to the Elmers Yuletide yanks and thrusts.
I can’t say I felt sorry for what happened to any of the characters but one thought she got away Scott free with her clever ploy however she forgot that there are eyes and cameras everywhere!!

This was a good mystery that had me guessing and second guessing what was going to happen next. Natalie and her new husband Dominic spend their first Christmas with his family… and ex-wife. Natalie experiences a number of red flag events throughout their visit and uncovers that there are family secrets she needs to know. There were a number of page turning twists and turns throughout, and while 95% of the book was amazing but the ending left me wanting a bit more. I still recommend to those who love a good thriller/mystery. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was my first Maria Frankland novel and it won’t be my last. If you like a story about toxic family dynamics- with a little attempted murder thrown in - then you’ll love this.

Quick read with some twists and turns.

His Ex-Wife by Maria Frankland was tense and gripping, absolutely addictive. I could not put this down. So well written and so clever. Loved this one.

Looking for an exciting fast-paced thriller? Grab this one! Poor Natalie knew she wouldn't be welcome at her in-laws, but she didn't quite know the ‘house of horrors’ she’d encounter. Yet, she has her own dark past in this new twist-filled psychological thriller from the fabulous Maria Frankland, another of my new favorites!

Thank you, Maria Frankland, bookouture, Noelle Holten, & netgalley, for my early #gifted copy! All opinions are my own.

On Christmas Eve, Natalie and Dominic are driving in the heavy snow to his parents’ house, The Elms, to spend the holiday with them. While Natalie would have loved to spend their first Christmas together alone, she is determined to be as positive as possible. Dominic’s parents, Ann-Marie and Roger, are always cool and aloof to Natalie as they feel she doesn’t meet their standards. Upon arrival, they learn that Dominic’s ex-wife, Carla, a successful lawyer, will be joining them as the weather has kept her from getting to her home in York. Natalie puts on a positive face and hopes that when Sophie, Dominic’s sister arrives, she will make things better as they have a close relationship.

But, When Carla tries to undermine her by tripping her making her spill red wine and by making her drop an expensive dish, Natalie is starting to get angry. The family knows that Natalie has a dicey past, so they need to know that they don’t want to push her too far.

Oh my, as the time passed and the snow continued to come down, I felt like I wanted to get out of there myself. It soon becomes apparent that Ann-Marie and Roger are trying to force Carla to do something for them that she is totally against. Hoping that Dominic will support her more, Natalie is disappointed when he tends to spend more time talking to Carla. When it all comes out and the violence explodes, I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. Maria Frankland has quickly become a favorite author of mine as she always throws surprises at the reader that they are not expecting. A terrific, nail-biting thriller that will keep readers turning pages as they race to the end. Enjoy!!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It's only been a year since I first became acquainted with Franklands books and with each one being a five star read, she's fast become one of my go to authors.

His Ex-Wife is a fast paced, twisty thriller that's set around the Christmas period - where tensions are already at an all time high - so with strange incidents beginning to happen - accusations are made, tempers flay and Natalie fears she may be in danger.

It's a book of two halves with the first half being narrated from Natalie, then the second switches to the POV of ex-wife Carla.

Engaging and enjoyable.

This is the first thriller I’ve read by the author and I loved her writing style. I thought I knew multiple times where the book was going, and boy was I wrong. This twisty thriller will have you looking at everyone as suspects and trusting no one. Such a great read!

Can you imagine going to spend your first Christmas as a newly wed at your in-laws house. Yes it can be a bit nerve wracking for some but it’s made even worse for Natalie when she arrives with her husband Dominic at his parent’s house. His parents feel that she isn’t good enough for him. Her mother in law takes great pleasure in telling her that Dominic’s ex wife Carla will be spending Christmas with them also. The only saving grace for Natalie is that her sister in law Sophie will be there and will be supportive to her. This book had so much going on but it was easy to follow and gripped me right from the prologue. It’s a fast paced domestic thriller with lots of secrets to be revealed. The characters were well developed and I was positive I knew who could be trusted and who couldn’t . Once I started reading this book I couldn’t stop frantically turning the pages of my kindle to find out what the outcome was going to be. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fast paced enjoyable read with a clever ending I will definitely check out more of her books

A huge thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley and Maria for receiving an ARC of this book.
As usual, Maria has written another great book. What happens when you spend Christmas with your in laws and all the family secrets come spilling out?? This book definitely makes you keep reading with twist after twist. I would highly recommend this novel along with all Maria's books. It's another good one by this author!

I would like to thanks the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an arc of His Ex-Wives by Maria Frankland!
It was my first book by Maria Frankland, and I have to tell you that I finished it in less than 24 hours.

It wasn't lyrical, but the sentences were easy to read and conveyed the character's feelings brilliantly. There were few descriptions, but the atmosphere was so vivid that I often felt like I was watching a movie.

I really liked the setting! The characters are stuck in a house far away from everything because of a snowstorm, so anything could happen and no one would ever know. I liked this eerie atmosphere,I was very afraid for our characters.
Even though I found the plot twists quite predictable, I couldn't put this book down and it's thanks to the characters. Particularly thanks to Natalie and Carla, who are so likable that it was easy to sympathize with them.
Despite their differences in the beginning, they are so alike. I loved the way they bonded.
Natalie's story broke my heart, like Carla, she didn't deserve everything that happened to her, so I'm happy that they had each other at the end.

I also loved the judicial aspect - the bond hearing and the trial parts - it gave realistic vibes to the story.

A good and entertaining psychological thriller which will delight people who like Freida McFadden's work. I will make sure to read Maria Frankland's other books.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of His Ex-Wife.

Natalie is spending Christmas with her in laws who are not a fan of her. Her husband Dominic gets them there in a horrible storm and when they arrive they find out Carla,Dominic’s ex wife cannot get home for Christmas so she will also be spending it with them. They are all snowed in together and tensions begin to rise and true colors are shown. Natalie begins to wonder who she can trust.

I really enjoyed this book and I thought the storyline was very well written. I did not see the twists coming. It was a very good read.

Newlyweds Natalia and Dominic are heading to his parent’s house for Christmas. Driving in the horrible snowstorm was already making Natalie nervous, but she’s also nervous because Roger and Ann-Marie are very wealthy, very snooty and very unwelcoming. Dominic’s ex-wife, Carla, is a stunning lawyer who makes a ton of money and has a good amount of power. Now that he’s married to a nail technician, his parents are less than impressed by the woman he’s picked for his second wife.

They get there, and Natalie gets a cold reception, before they are shocked by the news that Carla will be spending Christmas with them. The storm they’d driven up in has left trains out of commission, and Carla was going to have to sleep in her office until she was invited by Dominic’s parents. Natalie can’t help but notice how much kinder her husband’s parents are to his ex, and that she already had a pile of presents under the tree - but this was supposed to be a last minute invitation made out of desperation?

Then Natalie also notices the family, minus her, keep whispering behind closed doors. Why is her husband whispering with his ex? Why was his ex yelling at his parents? Why is her new husband being a jerk to her, ignoring her when she’s all alone in this strange house? When Carla tells Natalie to be careful and not trust this family, her antenna really goes up. Why is she there celebrating Christmas with them if they aren’t to be trusted?

The first part of the book was written from Natalie’s point-of-view, then it flips and the second part is from Carla’s. This book is full of twists - a lot has happened in the past, a lot is going on in the present, and by the end, it’s the future of the characters that’s in question. This was quite suspenseful and a lot of fun to read! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Maria Frankland and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

Thank you, Net Galley for the ARC! I wasn't expecting the ending at all! This book was filled with alot of twist and turns, and it had me guessing the whole time! Natalie married Dominic and was stuck spending their first Christmas with his family and ex-wife Carla during a snow storm. Natalie discovers that not everything is perfect between this family and the ex-wife as it seems. There are a lot of secrets to reveal, and also, her marriage may not be as perfect as she thought.

An absolute page turner. The curiosity keeps you hooked on to the book. The twists are awesome and the story unique. Characters are awesome and pace is fast of the story. Loved this book.

This is the first book I've read from Maria Frankland. I enjoyed reading this book. Dual Pov - Natalie and Carla. It was a little bit twisty. However, I did think this was a little too long and dragged in the middle part of the story. Other than that, it was great.

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
His Ex-Wife is a cleverly twisty read.
Maria Frankland can be hit or miss for me but this one was definitely a hit.
Natalie and her husband Dominic are attending his family’s Christmas celebration in their beautiful home The Elms.
His parents Roger and Ann-Marie have also invited his ex wife the glamorous Carla.
His sister Sophie arrives as well.
The event is snowed in and no one can go anywhere.
Natalie does her best to mingle but soon incidents happen and they point to Carla as the culprit.
Secrets begin to surface in this family and as she eavesdrops on conversations she believes that his parents want him to get back with Carla.
As the festive atmosphere continues, Natalie thinks she could be in danger…..
After reading the blurb, I was keen to get into it.
I devoured each chapter, quite excited to see where it would end up.
Plenty of surprises and a smart ending.
A fast paced and enjoyable read.