This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

The Innocent Wife is a solid domestic thriller. I particularly enjoyed the core plot about Natalie, Olivia and Lucas (TW for content) compared to the subplots scattered throughout the story.

What sets The Innocent Wife apart from similar domestic thrillers is the ending. I loved the approach Sally Royer-Derr took to close out the story. I look forward to reading more of her work!

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm, for the gifted copy to read and review.

I found this book just OK. I actually had trouble finishing it, just couldn’t engage with the story and characters. I didn’t really care for Natalie, too many extraneous characters that I had to remember, no real surprises, and conclusion was a real stretch of the imagination.

I have previously read a book by this author and loved it, so I had high hopes for this one and it didnt disappoint. Its told by multiple POV's , the characters are likeable, and it was unpredictable. Love this author.

Read this book within 24 hours.
I really enjoyed how fast paced the book was without any slow gaps at any part. I found myself going to pick the book up whenever I had a chance as was always wondering what direction the book was going.

Twisty and gripping throughout

Sally Royer-Derr writing in this book was fab and makes you feel you know the characters in real life.

Loved Natalie and Olivia's friendship! Was rooting for them from the start.

Very grateful for the opportunity to read this book and will definitely be picking up more books from this author again!

A solid 4.5/5 from me

This one just didn't work for me. I tried to enjoy it, but the writing didn't connect for me. It felt repetitive, It was too unbelievable and I didn't enjoy any of the characters.

I gave this book 4 stars. It is truly an addictive crime thriller. It has alot of turns and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Buckle up! It is worth the read!

Well this was a doozy!

Post-divorce, Natalie takes a new teaching job at her daughter's school and moves into a new home right across the street. What she doesn't realize until her first day is that this is the same school her jerk of an ex teaches at! Fortunately, she doesn't think Lucas recognizes her and she tries to stay off his radar.

Meanwhile, Natalie and Olivia, Lucas' wife, become friendly as Olivia volunteers at the school. And everyone, including Olivia, seems blinded by his charm but Natalie knows the truth and feels compelled to save her. Olivia is essentially a stepford wife, but Natalie suspects that Lucas hasn't changed. With every page turned, this book just becomes darker, more dramatic and increasingly thrilling.

I really loved Natalie's relationship with her ex-husband. Everyone needs a bestie like him.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Sally Royer-Derr for the eARC.

Natalie starts a new position at her daughter's school. She soon runs into another teacher, Lucas, who she knows from her past. Everyone loves Lucas - he is charming and friendly.. However, Natalie knows that is not the truth. Lucas's wife, Olivia, and Natalie become friends. With the help of Natalie, Olivia quickly realizes her husband isn't who she thought he was...

Quick and easy read but just too predictable for me. The writing also felt a bit...immature? I don't know, it sort of gave me YA vibes. At the end of the day, nothing made this book stand out from a regular run of the mill domestic thriller.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very exciting and I couldn’t predict what was going to happen. I love psychological thrillers and this book did not disappoint. Anyone looking for a good mystery will not be disappointed.

This was a doozy of a thriller. This book follows Natalie and Olivia two women with connections to Lucas Hansen a teacher at an elementary school. Natalie knew Lucas 20 years ago and Olivia is married to him now. Lucas has groomed many young teens and Natalie is determined to not let it happen ever again. Natalie is also dealing with her daughter's father who is in jail and little things keep happening hinting that he may be out and looking for her as well. The writing in this book felt a little 'jagged' at times or kind of immature, but the story was interesting enough. It all wrapped up a bit too nicely for me and was definitely off the wall, but I can see many people liking the conclusion. If you like Freida McFadden I think you'd enjoy this. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

The Innocent Wife is a very good domestic noir that embodies the manipulation of one person against another while uncovering buried secrets.
Olivia appears to have it all: a beautiful home, an attentive and charming husband Lucas and, on the surface, a perfect life. That is until Natalie, her husband's new colleague, enters the story which is told from three points of view. This is a page turner with plenty of twists and turns and, although the characters are generally unlikeable, it does not in any way detract from the plot. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Overall, my reading experience with this book was positive. Objectively, it was a well crafted story, however, I personally didn’t gel with the writing style and it felt quite repetitive in parts. This book is a great domestic thriller with some truly suspenseful and nightmarish moments, but there wasn’t really a ‘plot twist’ moment for me, so I would advise going into this book not expecting one.

Thanks to the Storm publishing (one of my favorite publishers) and Netgalley for this eARC.

Sally Royer-Derr's "The Innocent Wife" is not your typical domestic thriller. It's a masterfully crafted exploration of the insidious nature of manipulation, the fragility of trust, and the devastating consequences of buried secrets.

This story centers around Olivia, a woman who appears to have it all: a charming husband, a beautiful home, and a seemingly idyllic life. But beneath the surface of her perfect marriage lies a web of deceit that begins to unravel when she encounters Natalie, her husband's new colleague.

Royer-Derr's writing is sharp and suspenseful, drawing the reader into Olivia's world and slowly revealing the cracks in her carefully constructed reality. The narrative skillfully shifts between perspectives, offering glimpses into the minds of both Olivia and Natalie, adding layers of complexity to the already intriguing plot.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of the psychological dynamics at play. The author delves into the subtle ways in which manipulation can erode one's sense of self, leaving the victim questioning their own sanity. It's a chilling portrayal of how easily trust can be betrayed and the lasting impact it can have on those involved.

"The Innocent Wife" is a thought-provoking examination of the dark side of human relationships. It will leave you questioning the nature of innocence and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.

Wow! This book had me hooked from the 1st page. I couldn't put it down, I kept finding time to sneak in a chapter here and there throughout my work day just to read it faster! It covers a lot of domestic abuse and grooming of minors, but in a graceful way that still leans towards realistic and relatable. You really grow to hate Lucas with a passion. A master manipulator and narcisstic pedo. The climax at the end of the book was fast and intense. The twist had me shocked! And who doesn't love a happy ending? This book had me in tears at the end. I was so happy to read that the characters had a positive turnaround after such an intense jam-packed book filled with secrets and abuse.

This was the first novel I read by Sally Royer-Derr. I really enjoyed this thriller. It was definitely unputdownable. "In this house, love and betrayal sleep side by side..."

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy!

Once I sat down with this book I couldn't put it down! There were so many twists in this book that made it hard to put down! I read it in almost one sitting. I really enjoyed the authors writing style as they pulled me into the story very quickly! The ending had me gasp out loud, I thought I had it figured out. I love when that happens!

If you're looking for a domestic thriller, check it out! It's full of mystery, twists and secrets. Very fast paced!

This book was a slow burn but don’t let that stop you because there is a reason for it. It gives time to build some to some crazy twists. Thank you Netgalley, Storm Publishing and the author Sally Royer-Derr for the advanced copy.

This is a story told in three POV's which I found a bit confusing. Description sounded very good but I didnt enjoy it as much as I had hoped too. Only and OK read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Natalie has a position in her daughters school and meets lucas who is married to olivia. Natalie previously knew lucas as he was her teacher who groomed her as a teenager and now lucas has his sights on another teenage girl. all the while Lucas's wife olivia knows something is going on but cant quite figure out what it is.
Its a story told from 3 different points of view and the story moves quite quickly.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy for an honest review.