Overall I really liked this book! It kept my attention from the beginning. There were a lot of moving parts and I did like the story telling that took place at different times (past and present). I did guess the main ending but there was one twist I didn’t see coming!

Soriah, has a troubled past Twenty years ago she was kidnapped and raped. and now her kidnapper is being released from prison,

She is experiencing some odd events in her life but it's her very own secret that haunts her the most.
Past and present collide and what happens next is both gripping and unexpected.

This book is amazing to read, I did not and could not guess what was going to happen next and I was gripped.
As the story unfolded and I knew more about Soriah I was amazed that her secret did not reveal itself sooner.

a fab read

Soriah is married and plagued with issues from her past & strange things start happening that have forced her to face it. I haven’t read a decent thriller in a while, but this one was pretty good..
Thanks Netgalley for the copy!

"The Quiet Wife" by Diane Saxon is a chilling and suspenseful psychological thriller that will leave you breathless. Jodi, the protagonist, is trapped in a suffocating marriage with a controlling and emotionally abusive husband.

**What Makes It Stand Out:**

* **Atmospheric Tension:** Saxon masterfully builds suspense, creating an atmosphere of dread and unease that permeates every page. The pacing is impeccable, with the tension steadily increasing until it reaches a fever pitch.
* **Compelling Protagonist:** Jodi is a complex and sympathetic character. Her internal struggles are realistically portrayed, making her both relatable and unforgettable. The reader truly feels her fear, her desperation, and her growing determination to break free.
* **Unpredictable Twists:** The plot takes several unexpected turns, keeping the reader constantly guessing. Just when you think you've figured things out, Saxon throws in another curveball, leaving you reeling.

**Minor Criticisms:**

* **Some Predictability:** While the overall plot is unpredictable, some of the smaller twists and turns might be anticipated by seasoned thriller readers.

**Overall:**

"The Quiet Wife" is a captivating and thought-provoking read. It's a powerful exploration of the complexities of domestic abuse, highlighting the insidious nature of emotional manipulation and the courage it takes to break free.

**Recommendation:**

I highly recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers, particularly those who enjoy stories with strong female protagonists and a focus on suspense and suspense.

Diane Saxon’s The Quiet Wife follows Soriah, a woman grappling with life twenty years after being kidnapped and raped. When her abuser is released from prison, a series of unsettling events begin to unfold: her cat repeatedly goes missing, doors are mysteriously found unlocked, and flowers are left on her doorstep. Yet, her troubles extend beyond him, for she harbors a secret and fears her past is finally coming to get her.

The plot was intriguing, and the writing was adequate. While I don’t often read psychological thrillers, I found the twists in this novel to be predictable. At every turn, I had a highlighted annotation in previous chapters with my accurate predictions. I sincerely clocked every single one. And yet, this predictability isn’t what ruined my reading experience. There is a specific moment that completely overshadowed the entire book for me, making it impossible to connect with the rest of the story.

Fair warning there are spoilers ahead, as I simply cannot review this book without discussing this in detail.

On page 132, the author pauses the narrative to deliver an anti-abortion rant:

“What I refused to go along with was the actual abortion. Once that doctor told me that at twenty-two weeks, that baby was fully developed in my womb with eyes that were just about opening and ears that could hear, there was no way I could in all good conscience kill a living being. How could I abort something real? A human. A baby who never deserved to be murdered just because neither of its parents wanted it. I certainly don’t want it. The mere thought of holding a baby from that evil creature turns my stomach. But so does murder.”

Yeah…no. This was not good.

It’s one thing for Soriah to practice her right to choose and decide she does not want an abortion. There were so many routes that could have been taken without needing to venture into overt political commentary — the author could have simply chosen to depict Soriah as being too far along in her pregnancy to legally obtain an abortion. Instead, this passage felt like a deliberate insertion of anti-abortion rhetoric, which is both unnecessary and harmful in the context of the story.

Let’s look at the facts. Medically speaking, a fetus becomes viable at 24 to 28 weeks, not at 22 weeks. Therefore, factually, claiming the baby was “fully developed […] with eyes that were just about opening and ears that could hear” is incorrect. Roe v. Wade also states a person may choose to have an abortion until a fetus becomes viable at 24-48 weeks. UM, HELLO? Even if we choose to set all of this aside, equating abortion with murder is an inflammatory and deeply political statement, and I found it so utterly disappointing the author would use this moment to spew anti-abortion rhetoric and preach reversive politics, just for the hell of it.

In a climate where abortion rights are under constant threat, this passage is egregious. It risks alienating readers all while perpetuating harmful narratives about women’s reproductive rights. The author’s decision to include this judgmental passage is extremely irresponsible — especially if we consider the impact it could have on readers who may have had to face this decision themselves.

For me, this ruined the novel and made it completely irredeemable. I finished it for the sake of providing feedback, but I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to any audience. Even beyond its problematic messaging, The Quiet Wife fails to bring anything special to the psychological thriller genre that would justify supporting it.

The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon delivers a dark and suspenseful tale about trauma, resilience, and the complexities of survival. Told through alternating timelines spanning 20 years, the story follows Soriah, a woman haunted by the events of her past. Two decades ago, she endured a horrific ordeal at the hands of an obsessed fellow student, and now, as her assailant is released from prison, the life she’s carefully built begins to unravel.

The premise is gripping, and Saxon weaves an unsettling atmosphere that grips you from the start. The alternating timelines create an effective narrative structure, slowly revealing the depth of Soriah’s pain and the lengths she’s gone to in order to shield herself from her past. Themes of abuse, obsession, and the enduring effects of trauma are explored with unflinching honesty, making this book a challenging but thought-provoking read.

Soriah is a layered protagonist whose choices reflect the messy and non-linear nature of healing. While some of her decisions might leave readers puzzled or frustrated, they feel authentic to her experience as a trauma survivor. That said, her naivety and insistence on secrecy regarding her past sometimes felt contrived, especially as these choices repeatedly led to further danger.

The supporting cast adds complexity to the narrative, though not all relationships are equally developed. Soriah’s husband, Marcus, comes across as unsympathetic and one-dimensional, making it difficult to understand the dynamics of their marriage or why Soriah remains in the relationship. Conversely, Soriah’s mother stands out as a grounding presence, offering moments of wisdom and emotional clarity amidst the tension.

While The Quiet Wife delivers plenty of twists and turns, not all of them land as intended. The major plot twist is foreshadowed early, which may leave seasoned thriller readers underwhelmed. The suspense leading up to the reveal is palpable, but the payoff lacks the emotional punch it seems to aim for. Additionally, some threads remain unresolved by the end, leaving questions about certain characters’ motivations and the aftermath of key events.

Despite these shortcomings, the book is a fast-paced and compelling read. Saxon’s prose is engaging, and the suspense keeps the pages turning. While it doesn’t break new ground in the psychological thriller genre, The Quiet Wife is a solid choice for fans of dark, character-driven stories that explore the long shadows cast by trauma.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows Soriah, told through alternating timelines spanning 20 years. In the past, Soriah endured a harrowing experience at the hands of a fellow student obsessed with her. Fast-forward to the present: she’s married, trying to start a family, and doing her best to keep her traumatic past buried—until her assailant is released from prison.

This book tackles heavy themes such as abuse, sexual assault, and the effects of obsessive, toxic behavior. The Quiet Wife is not for the faint of heart, as it delves into subjects that could provoke feelings of discomfort or distress, especially for those who’ve experienced similar situations.

A major plot twist is revealed, though it fell flat for me—I saw it coming almost as soon as the first clue was dropped. It might be because I’ve read too many books with similar twists, or perhaps the narrative didn’t build enough suspense around the reveal.

Soriah’s husband, Marcus, is as unlikable as expected, but even his ending didn’t deliver the satisfaction I was hoping for. Soriah herself is a deeply complex character. She endured unimaginable pain, and I can’t say what I’d do in her shoes. Some of her decisions didn’t resonate with me, but it’s important to acknowledge that victims respond to trauma in varied ways, and her reactions felt authentic, even if they didn’t align with what I might have chosen.

That said, the ending left me wanting. It lacked the closure I felt the story deserved, and something critical seemed to be missing, preventing it from fully landing its emotional impact.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I want to be ordinary. To fade into the shadows where no one notices me and live a quiet life. A normal life. But I am not ordinary. Not anymore! Good book! This book had suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, a sort of who done it and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was interesting, it wasn't one of my top favorite but still worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I thought this was a fast-paced read, but I walked away still not understanding the motivations of some of the characters. The story centers on Soriah and is told in alternating timelines from 20 years ago to current. Soriah suffered an unthinkable situation driven from a fellow student who was unhealthily obsessed with her. Fast-forward 20 years, she is now married and trying for a baby, while managing to keep her past buried, when her assailant is released from prison. She starts receiving threatening texts and anonymous gifts and is convinced her nightmare is starting again.

Soriah is a pretty naive character, in my opinion, and I never really understood why she went to such lengths to keep her past a secret. Her mom was a great character, though, and I felt like she helped her understand how to look at the big picture. I also didn't really understand the dynamic between Soriah and her husband Marcus- I wish I could have gotten more details into that relationship in the beginning because once other things started happening, I didn't feel like I had a baseline. There were plenty of twists and turns in the book, some which I figured out and some which I didn't. I thought the ending was satisfying, though I was still left with some unanswered questions.

Overall, I liked this book but I can't say I loved it- there were a couple things that I felt were just never made clear. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you are in the mood for a gripping psychological thriller, check out The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon. It was a great read.

An enjoyable read. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. Will keep an eye out for future books.

Wow, this had me picking up my kindle at every available opportunity. I finished this in less than 24 hours, desperate to find out what would happen it me gripped from the very first page! This plot was an absolute triumph!

It had many twists and turns from the start. I was kept on the edge of my seat and enthralled throughout. The subject matter that this book touched upon I felt was done in a diligent and humble way.

I’d highly recommend this book when it comes out in Feb.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars

I was immediately drawn to the cover of this book, and after reading the description, I knew I had to read it. At the time of writing this, there are no other reviews of The Quiet Wife, I went in completely blind and I can honestly say wow!

The Quiet Wife starts with Soriah's POV in the present day (or in my case, future, as I'm reading the Arc in 2024 and the book is based in 2025). Soriah laments that she needs to get away from someone dangerous -her husband. The book then goes back to 2004 and gives us the POV of Craig and past Soriah when "the incident" happened, and continues back and forth with present time, giving us an insight into Soriah's life after she learns Craig is going to be released from jail.

The heavy narrative is not for the faint hearted, but it describes a touchy subject in a respectful manner. We soon learn what really happened, and most importantly, who was involved -I will avoid mentioning the other character because I physically gasped out loud during this part of the book! We then meet Marcus through Soriah's POV. He's her husband and honestly, an idiot. Soriah finds out she's pregnant but unfortunately the good news come to an end when she starts receiving messages threatening with exposing a secret from her past (it is implied that she hides what happened to her due to trauma and shame, even hiding it from her own sister)

Halfway the book, the story takes a turn with the introduction of a new character's POV who again, can't really be mentioned without spoiling the surprise. If you thought the first part of the book was shocking... get ready for the rollercoaster that is the second hand. How many times can one physically gasp at a book? way to go, Marcus...! A character worth noting is Soriah's mum who pretty much says what we're all thinking. Soriah may be a bit too naive!

The ending was great, so satisfying!

All in all, a fantastic page-turner.