The Mother-in-Law

I started this thinking that it would be similar to a few I have read recently about a dysfunctional relationship with a mother in law that wasn't necessarily as it may seem , this book was brilliant . To start you think that Lucy's mother in law is cold ,unfeeling and unpleasant but as the story is told from both Lucy's and Diana's point of view you hear from them both in the past and the present you see how a lot of the animosity is just plain misunderstanding . I really warmed to both women and I found myself very emotional at parts of the book , especially towards the end . One of the best I've read in a long while , absolutely 5 stars , would award more if I could . Thank you

The Mother-in-law by author Sally Hepworth is an intense and twisty psychological thriller! I was gripped into this book and it for sure held my interest! The characters were great, whether likable or not, they were solid. The plot was perfect, always pulling you in more.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Mother-in-law in exchange for an honest review.

Does any woman ever measure up, is she ever good enough for her mother-in-law? Lucy has always known that she wasn’t what Diana wanted for her son, but that didn’t stop her from trying. Now, Diana is dead, a suicide note found nearby stating she no longer has the strength to fight the cancer riddling her body. There’s only one problem – Diana does not have cancer. As her death begins to look more like a murder., the question arises – who would want her dead, and why? Does it have anything to do with the fact that her will was amended to disinherit her children and their spouses? I got such a kick out of this novel, as a woman who has had two mothers-in-law (two too many) and I loved seeing the layers of Lucy and Diana’s relationship peel back to reveal the truth

Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley.

Lucy and her mother-in-law, Diana, have a complicated relationship. Now, Diana has been found dead with a suicide note. The autopsy comes back and it's clear that someone wanted Diana dead.

At first, this book reads like a thriller. There definitely is a whodunit? type feel during some parts. However, the highlights of this book involve the relationship between Diana, her children, and her daughter-in-law. She is a complicated person, and there are layers and layers under her appearance that explain why. This is where Sally Hepworth shines as an author. The whodunit? part is a little bit predictable, but keep reading for Diana's story. Strong read.

How have I never heard of Sally Hepworth before?
The Mother - in - Law was awesome!
Hooked from the first page, and didn’t let up until that last....I finished this book in one day it was that good!
This book was so well written...the story flowed perfectly....I’m going to check out her other books...literally right now!
Buy this book....you will be so glad to did!

24 hour read! I could not put this book down! The story of a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, with the intrigue of a murder and told by alternating from past to present! Both MIL and DIL are flawed characters which makes their relationship with each other that much more real. The supporting cast of characters helped to portray the complicated family dynamics as well! The only reason I will not be giving this book a 5 star review is in disappointment in the conclusion. I found it far fetched and not as plausible as other endings could have been.

Sally Hepworth certainly knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is perfect for the beach, a lazy afternoon or a long flight. Its a good mystery that keeps you turning the pages, wondering what will happen and sorry to see it end.

The Mother -in-Law drew me in from the opening pages.A family inside their home enjoying a normal evening. When suddenly the woman of the house notices a police car outside a feeling of doom she waits a few minutes before alerting anyone.When the reason for the policeman’s arrival the tragedy he shares.We are drawn in to this families history relationship especially that of the Mother-in-law & daughter-in-law.
A tense thriller a true page turner another well written compuksive read by Sally Hepworth.Thanks to #netgalley #st.Martins,

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This was better than average women’s fiction. I really enjoyed it and I felt like I saw part of myself in all of the female characters, even if it got a little melodramatic and trope-ish at the end. You’ll enjoy spending time with these women
3.5 rounded up

I really enjoyed this book and read it in two days! I thought the writing style was amazing and I loved that it was told from the Mother-in-Laws perspective too! I went in thinking I knew what was going to happen and I was very surprised! If you enjoy a fast paced story that leaves you wanting to know what’s next - then this book is for you!

I gave this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars it’s the second book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth and I now want to read them all!

Thank you to St. Martins’s Press, NetGalley and Sally Hepworth for the free advanced digital copy!

I loved this book! It was told from alternating points of view and the end was definitely a plot twist. I loved the struggle between the daughter in law and the mother in law. It seems everyone has some sort of issues.
I would highly recommend this book to others.

What a fantastic book!!! I’m sure most wives can relate to some, if not all, the characters in this book. I could not put this down. By the middle of the book the mother in law is a real person with real feelings. By the end you can relate to the the mother in law.

I have loved all of Kelly's books,but this one just might be my favorite! So many twists and turns. I hated for the book to end! Keep 'em coming,Sally!! # netgalley #themotherinlaw

Everybody in Diane's life has reason to want her dead, including Diane herself.

There seems to be an influx of cliché evil mother-in-law stories right now but this one really stands out from the crowd.

Diana, mother-in-law to Lucy, is found dead in her home of what initially appears to be a suicide. What ensues is a clever whodunnit with an array of characters, each one fleshed out perfectly, all so relatable that at times I could imagine myself sitting down to dinner with them.

With the number of suspects combined with alternating chapters from the POV of Lucy and Diane, jumping from the past to the present, one would think that the story would be difficult to follow. Somehow Sally Hempworth, through her easy breezy writing style, is able to pull it off flawlessly.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A very enjoyable family drama with a whodunit ending that leaves you guessing until the very end because of the multiple points of view being represented. Highly recommend!

This was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. I always enjoy Sally Hepworth's writing but this was especially addicting. It's part psychological thriller, part mystery and also a terrific family drama. It has the relationship conflicts and murder/suicide mystery along with the everyday life of this family that kept me drawn in. Hepworth does an amazing job with portraying motherhood so accurately and vividly. I also loved the evolving relationship Lucy has with her mother-in-law, Diana. Seeing the layers pulled back from this family was fascinating and while the ending did seem a little far-fetched, it was a page turner through and through. I also loved the last section that shared about the family 10 years later, which really helped tie up the book in such an enjoyable way. Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a fast-paced and interesting read. While it is titled Mother In Law, it could just as easily be titled Family Ties or The Goodwins! To be fair, the story does start with Lucy and Diana but as you move along every single family member is actively involved in it. I wouldn’t call it a thriller, it is more like a domestic mystery but is an enjoyable as a thriller.
Ms. Hepworth has presented the story from both the sides, she gives us a view in to what the Diana is doing and thinking and at the same time how it is being perceived by the others. This is not something that many authors have done while writing such books and this gives the reader a very unique perspective. It helps you get a balanced view of everything that is going on and makes it much harder to pick sides. It also makes it hard to figure out what happened to Diana and while you can keep guessing who did it and why, it is difficult to be certain till the author chooses to reveal it. Each person has strong motives and peeling away the layers in this case is an enjoyable experience as a reader. I liked how the reader knows why things are a certain way but the characters probably don’t. The characters are well developed, very real and relatable.
But then this book was written by Ms Hepworth so right when you think you finally know everything, there is sudden shocking twist. Something completely unexpected near the end of the book that makes you jaw drop and say “What??!!”
I throughly enjoyed reading this book, the 10yrs later part was great and gave some good closure. Would I have liked to see Patrick’s fate taking a different turn, sure but then that’s fate, unpredictable as ever.
The book is like a jigsaw puzzle, just you pick each piece of a puzzle and examine it, here you pick each character and their story and examine it. What’s wonderful is how it all comes together and gets neatly tied up in the end. Finishing this book gives you the same satisfaction you would get when you complete a puzzle.
I have only 2 complaints about this book:
One, which was a little annoying was the way the story moves from one incidence to another in the Past chapters. This slowed be down because I had to re-read to try and figure it out. I understand the chapter is titled as past but there is no demarcation between say the wedding day to a dinner that’s happening at a time when Lucy is 8 weeks pregnant. Or when Diana is meeting Nettie and suddenly recalling a meeting with Lucy. The writing seems a little disjointed in places and that causes some confusion to the reader. I think a simple double spacing or dotted line or a few words to indicate a flashback could make it easier to read.
And second, I do feel like the whole lack of communication angle is done to death (our not intended). I mean this book is set in recent times so really there is no reason why something can’t be texted! For instance, Diana forgetting to explain the significance of the grapes/chicken she gets for Lucy, Lucy forgetting to say thank you to Diana for taking her kids. I mean, seriously people, if you can’t discuss these things then at least pick up the phone and type a few words!

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book had my attention from the first page, finishing it in just over a day! I did not know what happened to Diana in her final moments until the final pages of the book. It was a fun and complicated story of a family’s deep secrets.

But beyond the mysterious death of Lucy’s mother-in-law, I found all the family issues fascinating and, as much as I would have liked to have disliked Diana(the mother-in-law), she really grew on me and I respected her views of her adult children and her love for her husband Tom.

Diana and Tom(the in-laws) were fairly wealthy and were “expected” to bail their children out of whatever financial troubles they came across. This never sat well with Diana and caused tension in the family. I could relate to Diana’s feelings of wanting her children to be independent and fight their own battles.

Anytime I finish a book and the characters sit with me for a while, making me reflect on my own life, that is a great book! I love the character developement in this story, and even though there was a mysterious murder, this story for me was ultimately about family, and the relationships we leave behind when its time to go.

I received this advanced copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. This book was published April 23rd, 2019. I hope you will check it out!

Wow! This was a compelling story. Diana had some secrets didn’t she? I was engaged immediately and when a book does that for me I am hooked. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Although it is a mystery, this novel explores some very large life issues. The writing skillfully moves the reader through several narrators and a period of several decades.

We are made to think about the horror of being an unwed mother and forced to give up a child, the ethics of euthanasia and the fertility issues which haunt so many women.

So, wrapped within this mystery, there are so many topics that a reading group will enjoy discussing. Amazing how Hepworth has turned what could have been an ordinary “who done it” into a thoughtful study of a family in crisis.

Enjoy!

This was the first book of Sally Hepworth's that I have read. I didn't know what to expect but enjoyed getting to know the characters in The Mother-in-Law. I was hooked fairly quickly and found myself looking forward to each character's storyline. I would like to have known more of Diana's story. This book explores the relationships between family members and made me wonder how I fit in my "in-law" story. A good read.

The Mother-in-Law was a great read. It kept me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the way the book is told from two different perspectives. I was able to relate to both characters. I even found myself cheering on the mother-in-law. This is another great book from Sally Hepworth!

I love Sally Hepworth's books and was very excited to get an ARC from NetGalley. I enjoyed this book - it had a good family drama with a little mystery and humor mixed in. The chapters alternated not only between Lucy, the daughter-in-law's and Diana, the mother-in-law's points of view but also between the past and the present. Their relationship was very believable and authentic. I had the hardest time with Nettie - her change throughout the book was so dramatic and none of the family seemed to notice what was going on. It was a great book and I highly recommend anything by SallyHepworth.

I was really intrigued by this book to see how the author would portray the mother-in-law. I have to say she did it perfectly! In the beginning I really did not like Diana, the mother-in-law. How could she be so cold and distant, even to her own children? But the way this book plays out with dual perspectives from Lucy, the daughter-in-law and Diana, through past and present, helps us to understand both truly and honestly. Even though I didn't agree with Diana's actions, you learn why she is the way she is and you soon come to appreciate her reasons. I couldn't put this book down! After Diana is found dead, the question is was it a suicide or a homicide? I was so absorbed into who could've killed Diana and why?! I mean there were plenty of reasons why, but who would actually go through with it? This is definitely a page-turner and I loved every minute of it. This was my first Sally Hepworth book and I look forward to reading more!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderfully different approach to family dynamics... Lucy has always had a strained relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana and when Diana is found dead under suspicious circumstances, everyone’s involvement is called into question - from Lucy to her husband Ollie, sister in law Nettie & Nettie’s Husband Patrick. Told in alternating perspectives from Lucy & Diana, the plot begins to unravel and shocking secrets come to light.

In my humble opinion, this is Hepworth’s best yet and I found this book entirely un-put-downable!

This was a fantastic read! The author did a fantastic job of weaving together various storylines that make you both love and hate the characters.

When a story unfolds by revealing a character's perspective, it's always an interesting journey. Sally Hepworth lays out the path from three points of view within a family, and no doubt many readers will see some similarity between snippets of this story and their lives. The family dynamics are all here, both good and bad, and yes some ugly moments too, but that's what families are really about.

The distinct parallels between my life and what I was reading was stunning. Sally Hepworth nails them spot-on. Parents want to spare their children the pain they experienced growing up, but so often those one-sided intentions lack the clarity of insight into other's lives. Unless one feels the pain, they can't appreciate being saved from it. The pain is what makes us, not its absence.

The Mother-in-Law has good twists that will keep you turning the pages, and provide reading groups with plenty to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the egalley of this book in exchange for an honest review. My review is entirely my own genuine review of this book.

"You're a bit of a hero around here.Everyone's wanted to give their mother-in-law a head injury at least once in their life."

Thank you #netgalley ! The Mother-in-Law tells the story of Lucy, and her mother-in-law, Diana. Goodreads calls this a "twisty thriller about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in murder." Lucy is married to Ollie, Diana's son. Diana and Lucy seem to have a strained relationship from the beginning. Although Lucy hopes to have a great relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana always seems to keep her at a distance. When Diana ends up dead, the police cannot determine if it's a suicide or a homicide. This begs two questions. 1.) If it is suicide, why would Diana kill herself? And 2.) If it is homicide, who hates Diana enough to want to kill her?

This was my second novel by Sally Hepworth that I have read. (If you haven't read The Things We Keep, I highly recommend it.) The Mother-in-Law was an intriguing read that hooked from the very first page. Hepworth put a refreshing twist on the classic "hated mother-in-law" stereotype. The story alternates between Lucy and Diana's perspective, both past and present. Their stories were woven together seamlessly. The fact that we got the mother-in-law's side of the story left me feeling sorry for Diana. Rather than seeing her as dreadful, I was left feeling like she was simply misunderstood. She undoubtedly had her flaws, but I couldn't help but feel like she had the best intentions at heart. This story was also a good reminder that our parents are people, dealing with their own emotions and issues. The tension between Lucy and her mother-in-law was palpable. Hepworth made me feel for both Lucy and Diana; rather than siding with one of them, I found myself rooting for both of them. Besides the characters, the mystery of what happened to Diana kept me wanting to read more. I kept trying to piece together the details, and just when I thought I'd figured it out, there was a new revelation that threw prior assumptions out the window. You'll definitely want to put this on your TBR for 2019! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I wanted to read this book for a few reasons. Not only did the synopsis intrigue me but having a mother-in-law for the past 37 years and becoming a mother-in-law to my son's wife 5 years ago, I was curious if there would be any similarities to my real life relationships, and there were some.

Lucy lost her mother at the age of 13 so when she married Ollie she was hopeful that she would win his mother, Diana over and have a warm and loving relationship with her. However, Diana was a bit standoffish, some would even say she was "frosty" and as the years went by, the relationship turned volatile at times.

The story alternates between Lucy and Diana's perspectives both past and present but opens with the discovery of Diana's death. At first, the police felt it was a suicide but there were items at the scene that might lead in another direction.

The suspense was ongoing throughout the story, which made it hard to put this book down. The characters convincing. Not only was the mystery of Diana's death gripping, I also found the personal dynamics captivating.

Mothers of sons usually have to walk a fine line so as not to get the evil mother-in-law status, but in this case, Diana's past had such a bearing on her personality that I felt for her.

In the end, a letter was found in her desk with the following words of wisdom that Lucy now lives by:
I worked hard for everything I ever cared about. And nothing I ever cared about cost a single cent.


An outstanding read! I am looking forward of reading more books by Ms. Hepworth.

This is the story of strained relationship between a daughter in law and her mother in law, or so I thought it was. As the story unfolds, you get the an understanding of all the familial dyanmics and begin to realize that Diana, the matriarchy of the family, has her own history, beliefs and values that she persues steadfastly, even to the dismay of her family who misinterpret it as being disconnected or cold. Every few chapters, I had a new suspect at large, that is until the very end when, OF COURSE its the person you least suspect!

Giving this novel 5 stars for attention to developing the characters and their relationships, also because it was twisty/turny, and exactly what you want from a good "who done it" type story. This was my first Sally Hepworth book, and I will definitely be reading more of her in the future.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Not one of her books has disappointed me. In fact, they just keep getting better. This is a compelling story of a family with secrets, regrets and deep love for one another even if they do not show it. Diana is a great character. She is complex and tough, but she has her reasons for her tough exterior. This is a great story!

The story unfolds through alternating chapters told by Diana (the mother-in-law) and Lucy (the daughter-in-law married to Diana's son, Ollie), and from the present and the past. Towards the end, Nettie, Diana's daughter, is heard from as well as loose ends are tied up. This was my first book by Ms. Hepworth and has inspired me to check out some of her earlier titles.

The book kept my interest during a series of long flights with its unique storyline and interesting characters. Diana turns out to be more complex than I originally expected although I don't think all the threads of her story were fully developed.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the introduction to Sally Hepworth and the opportunity to read The Mother-In-Law!

Lucy and her mother-in-law, Diana, do not see eye to eye and do not get along. This story is told from each of their perspectives and is compelling from the very first page. Lucy and Ollie, Diana’s son, are married with three children. Diana appears cold and unloving, except towards her husband Tom. Diana is bereft after the death of Tom and when she is found dead, it appears that she may have taken her life. Throughout the story we learn more of Lucy and Diana and their past history. Things are not always what they appear to be. This is an excellent story of domestic drama, family struggles, greed and also love.

From the Title, there is an immediate assumption that there is conflict and the mother-in law is the villain. In a delightful twist, I found myself liking both characters. The author was able to effectively switch time frames and characters in an easy to follow method. There is conflict, of course but the reader is able to see both sides. I found myself reading way beyond bedtime because I was just so interested in the story line. It takes great talent to lay out personalities and values so different and let the reader make her own conclusion or identify with both characters. This is a must read next spring! Completely enjoyable
Netgalley #sallyhepworth

What a twisting, compelling, insightful and addictive novel The Mother-In-Law turned out to be! Full of pockets of grey, nothing is as it seems and no one is truly good or bad. By telling the story from the perspectives of both the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law, Sally very much shows us that there is always two sides to every story.

‘If you ask me, everyone is a little too interested in their children’s happiness. Ask anyone what they wish for their kids and they’ll all say they want them to be happy. Happy! Not empathetic contributing members of society. Not humble, wise and tolerant. Not strong in the face of adversity or grateful in the face of misfortune. I, on the other hand, have always wanted hardship for my kids. Real, honest hardship. Challenges big enough to make them empathetic and wise. Take the pregnant refugee girls I deal with every day. They’ve been through unimaginable hardships, and here they are working hard, contributing and grateful. What more could you want for your kids?’

With clever wit and a plausible plot, Sally walks us through a myriad of family dynamics that were entirely relatable. There is a high level of suspense sustained throughout, not only with regards to how Diana died, but also about the secrets various family members were harbouring and the past grievances that were yet to be revealed. The chapters are delivered in short bursts, solidifying this novel as a real ‘page-turner’. Highly recommended!

‘It occurs to me that only a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law can have an all-out war without anyone so much as raising their voice. The funny thing is, if any of the menfolk were here, they wouldn’t have a clue that anything other than a pleasant conversation was going on. If Ollie were here, he’d probably comment on “what a nice afternoon that was with Mum.” In that way, menfolk are really quite simple, bless them.’


Thanks is extended to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Mother-In-Law for review.

Review posted to my blog on 28/01/2019 in line with Australian release.

A little slow at times but still a very good book. Some of the characters are very hard to like but redeem themselves at the end of the book. There are a couple of possibilities as to who might be the killer , if you think you know who did it, I can pretty much guarantee that you don't ! I did like the book very much but I did not love it. And I am still not sure why.

This book opens with the death of the mother in law of the primary narrator, Lucy . Although it appears to be a suicide, the police almost immediately are able to see it was actually a murder. Although I was able to figure out the "mystery" of the murderer relatively quickly, I still found this novel to be incredibly engrossing. I would qualify it much more as a family drama than as a mystery or thriller, so if you're looking for that, you'd be better served to look elsewhere.
The author did an amazing job of not losing her audience, even though chapters alternated between past and present, as well as alternating between narrators (the aforementioned Lucy, and the titular mother in law). Hepworth also made great use of cliffhangers, and I found myself racing through chapters on several occasions so I could read the outcome of the previous chapter's cliffhanger. I felt this book had the perfect amount of characters, which is something I haven't been able to say about many of the books I have read in recent months. There were just enough to keep you entertained and not so many you lose sight of their part in the plot.as strange as that sounds, that small point made this book THAT much more readable and enjoyable.
All in all, I was really impressed with this book, and with the author. I absolutely believe it will appeal to a wide audience, and will be an easy sell.

What a compelling story. I think most women can relate to the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. That relationship is hard enough, without the sweet expectations that are quickly proven wrong. I love that in the end that relationship comes full circle. This book is full of twists and turns and I cannot fathom my family going through all the trials at once. It was a great book that caught my attention quickly, was riveting, and hard to put down. I highly recommend this book!

Sally Hepworth rocks, and she has raised the bar with her newest. The Mother-in-Law kept me glued to the page from word one. Differing points of view written brilliantly. I love this book!

I received an ARC of this ebook from Netgalley. This isn't my first ARC of a Sally Hepworth novel. I absolutely requested it because I know will really enjoy the book. I love the depth in Sally Hepworth's books. The characters are well developed and the stories draw me in. I don't want to put the book down or have the story end. That is the case with this novel. I came to care for all of the characters and I really didn't want anyone to be guilty of murder. But as always I felt good about the ending and was not let down.

It's rare that two points of view are so successfully and diametrically opposed as they are in Hepworth's well-done domestic thriller.

The Mother In Law was a twist and turn book. Lucy the daughter in law and Ollie the son to Diana and her husband and family. Lucy wants to be close to her mother in law but can’t seem to whatever she seems to do. Lucy has 3 small children with Ollie. Nettie is Diana’s daughter and she has a husband. Suspenseful page turning novel.

My obsession with Sally Hepworth began through her novel The Family Next Door. I was so intrigued by the plot that I raced through it. I thought surely, Sally can't continue this kind of genius work? Well, folks, she can. The Mother-in-law was compulsively readable. So fascinating that I found myself setting it up while I washed dishes, reading it while I brushed my teeth. A family drama surrounding deep but complex relationships. The family matriarch has died from an apparent suicide. But it may not be as apparent as previously considered. It is written in alternating perspectives which enriches the plot and pulls the reader in. Sally creates characters so deceptively charming, so warm but mysterious. They could easily be your sister, cousin, mother-in-law. I read many domestic suspense novels and I truly believe Sally Hepworth is in a class all her own. I HIGHLY recommend.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* I can't tell you how excited I was to get my hands on Sally Hepworth's latest offering, 'The Mother-in-Law'. I had high expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. Not at all. I devoured this book, reading voraciously to find out the next twist in the tale. Like Hepworth's equally addictive 'The Family Next Door', MIL is set in my hometown, Melbourne and a number of the scenes take place just a few suburbs away from where I live. This just added to the appeal of the novel. The story starts with the death of the protagonist, Lucy's MIL, the rather intimidating Diana. What has happened? How has she died? Why has she died? Was it suicide, natural causes... or does someone have metaphorical blood on their hands? Hepworth has such a talent for creating characters that are so true-to-life. The book is not out for a few months, but once it hits the shelves, I highly recommend scooping it up.

*Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own*

This is my first Sally Hepworth book and I can't wait to pick up another one! It took me a few chapters to get into the flow of character and time changes but once I did I could not put the book down.

The Mother-in-Law is a story of secrets, lines crossed, and twists and turns throughout the story. I won't say much because I do not want to spoil the story. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the storyline and the quick short chapters that kept me intrigued.

I was so excited to receive a review copy of "The Mother-in-Law" from NetGalley! This was my first Sally Hepworth novel, and I absolutely loved it, and can't wait to read her others.

The first few chapters, I was prepared for a standard murder mystery...the "Mother-in-Law," Diana, is found dead, with a suicide note. However, the police begin investigating the possibility of a homicide.

The book alternates between the point of view of Diana and Lucy, the daughter-in-law. Their relationship is not a close one, as Diana keeps her guard up, even with her own children.

I found Hepworth's writing style fun, witty and punchy - but also endearing and full of emotion. Her style reminded me somewhat of Liane Moriarty, but perhaps even more enjoyable!

About halfway through, I had a theory of who may have killed Diana, and a possible motive. However, by 3/4 through, my theory was challenged, and couldn't believe all of the twists! I had so many questions about who Diana really was and what was going on with her daughter, Nettie, and Nettie's husband Patrick. Everyone felt like a suspect at some point!

I loved the telling of Diana and Lucy's relationship, although some of the conversations were completely cringeworthy. If my MiL said some of the things to me that Diana did, I would be horrified and hurt! Diana comes across as controlling, emotionally guarded, and serious, but we learn about a difficult past that helps explain her stony exterior.

My initial expectation of a lighthearted, thrilling read was surpassed by a novel rich with complexity. Hepworth covered so many tough topics is a real way, which I just loved. One of my favorite interwoven themes was one of feminism - there are discussions of women being paid less than men for the same work, and the unrealistic expectations around women's roles as mothers and providers. I highly recommend "The Mother-in-Law" for a gripping read!

love this book, characters were well developed. The plot had many twist and turns. Great read., cannot wait for the next book..

The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth was a phenomenal read. Y'all, this one had so many twists and turns, but they happened in an emotional and completely unexpected way. This book focuses on the relationship between a mother in law and her daughter in law. The relationship is explored in alternating chapters told from both of their perspectives. The added dimension is it's told in both the past and present. The present involves the death of the mother in law that may be a suicide, however the story quickly reveals that the story is far more complex than this. It was so captivating to learn the secrets that these women (and others in the family) had from each other, as well as the lies that were being told. Having the varied perspectives and timing in chapters made a story that kept me reading. There were lots of feels as multiple perspectives of how things went down were revealed. This one doesn't come out until April of 2019 (another book I received thanks to NetGalley), and when it does, y'all are going to need to check this one out.

Overall, this is a good read. The beginning really sucked me in and kept me guessing. At about the 80-90% mark however, I started losing steam. It started to feel like the characters were more written to trick you than actually deeply characterized and I was frustrated with some of their decisions. My biggest frustrations were things that seemed to be brought up for no reason, we spend a lot of time on flashbacks and memories that don't fit that seamlessly into the bigger picture. A lot of characters were introduced and then just kind of faded away with no further mention.

I would recommend it though, it's a fun read and interesting overall. A bit of a different side to the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law tension.

#The Mother-in-Law# NetGally#

This is one of Sally Hepworth’s best. A very thought invoking study of the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and their families. As everyone who has ever been married knows, we can all recognize the competitive nature of the MIL and the DIL. In this book, the reasons for discord are not clear in the first part of the book, but they are made clearer in the second half. I was not feeling the love for any of the characters at first, but grew to respect Lucy and Diana’s relationship. There is much misunderstanding about the relationships among all the characters. The book does bring up some controversial issues that are difficult to read. All in all, a very enjoyable book to read. Will definitely recommend this book to all my friends and family. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGally and the publisher for an advance read copy in return for a fair and honest review.

The MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth is a suspenseful domestic thriller that kept me guessing right up until the surprising ending. It is a clever and original story that explores a lot of different family dynamics, but especially the complicated relationship between daughter-in-law, Lucy and her mother-in-law, Diana. It is written from the points of view of both characters and also alternates between the past and present. I really enjoyed how the author slowly revealed the complexity of the characters and their relationships to one another while building up the mystery of what might have happened to Diana. Filled with intrigue, secrets and plenty of family drama, I couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This was the best book!! I could not put it down. I loved reading the layers of the different relationships between the characters. I fell in love with many characters. The mystery of Diane's death made the book a great page turner. I am going to start reading Hepworth's previous novels. I cant wait for my patrons to get a hold of this book!

Sally Hepworth, well done!

This book has many twists and turns up until the very last page. Throughout the novel, you think you have an idea of "who do it" but Hepworth does a great job of throwing in so many theories, it keeps you on your toes! I enjoyed each chapter being told from a different characters point of view. You were able to really connect with their past and present situations. This book has drama, love, and a thriller component, a very well rounded read!

If you're a mother in law, have a mother in law, or FEAR a MIL, this is for you! (JK, Most mother in laws ARE AMAZING, ) This is so well written and exciting, you won't know how things have twisted around and how bad the characters lives have gotten, until you catch your breath. Just the right amount of scary, family and mystery. Well written and fun to read. One of my top ten favorite's this year. Appreciate Netgalley giving me the chance to read this for my honest review.

I loved this book! HIGHLY recommend it. The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth was really good and I’m excited for my fellow book lovers to read it. The chapters alternate between characters and you can see their points of view which made the death of Diana even more bizarre. The author did a fantastic job of creating sympathetic characters and a plot that kept me reading past my bedtime every night.

Synopsis:

From the moment Lucy met her husband’s mother, Diana, she was kept at arm’s length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

That was five years ago. Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.

But the autopsy finds no cancer. The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation. Who could possibly want Diana dead? Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?

With Lucy’s secrets getting deeper and her relationship with her mother-in-law growing more complex as the pages turn, this new novel from Sally Hepworth is sure to add to her growing legion of fans.



I know this one is going to be extremely popular! Due out April 2019.

Sally Hepworth brings to life an incredible family saga of greed and betrayal with The Mother-In-Law. This novel follows on the heels of The Family Next Door.

Diana is found dead. And she left a note.

The Mother-in-Law centers around Lucy's twisty relationship with her husband's mother Diana. Lucy has married Ollie, and into a wealthy family dominated by the matriarch.

"Were you close to your mother-in-law?" ........"It's complicated."

In the first chapter, Lucy is greeted at the door by the police. The somber news of Diana's passing is given. But because of some items found at the house, the death is being treated under suspicious circumstances. Diana has left her last note, tucked in the top drawer of her desk. But what potentially looks like suicide has become something more deceiving. Like all the relationships in this family. Diana, a stoic widow, is survived by her son Ollie and daughter Nettie with husband Patrick. And a sizeable estate. All could use a piece of the pie. But all eyes are on Lucy. After all, there was no warmth in Lucy and Diana's relationship and there was even shared a moment of violence.

The story unfolds in alternating voices, Lucy and Diana's in the past and present. When we first meet Lucy "past", we see a young woman trying to bond with her boyfriend's mother. As a bride, we see her trying to please her future mother-in-law. But the harder Lucy tries to be the exemplary future daughter and wife, the more obstinate Diana becomes. But there is more to Diana that meets the eye. She is a woman with a long history and a past not known to many. And as we grow to see the true Matriarch, the fractures in the children's relationship with Diana also start to show. As the "past" starts to merge with the "present" it becomes clear that nobody in the family really knows each other.

What a well-crafted story. And nothing you imagined.

One of my favorite aspects of reading a novel is the fluidity of the writing. Hepworth provides details and twists of the plot without muddling the atmosphere of the storyline. What sets this novel aside from other stories about in-laws is Hepworth giving depth to Diana's voice. We see Diana as an emotional statue in Lucy's chapters, but in Diana's "past", we see a young woman faced with many challenges she's often faced alone. Diana is complex and a paradox. She is ambivalent to her own family but extends a helping hand to an impoverished one. There is a hint of an unreliable narrator, as she twists ill-will into kindness. Diana's history is layered with sadness and triumph, solidifying her character. In Lucy's chapter, we see a mother and wife growing weary from trying to please her mother-in-law. And she starts to unravel. Each chapter leaves you with a feeling that compels you to read further. Towards an unforgettable ending.

The Mother-in-Law is a story of suspense but also of reflection. It makes you dig a little deeper into your own family relationships and dynamics. This novel definitely leaves you thinking well after the story has ended. I highly recommend this novel and I am excited to see what Hepworth's future work.

"And nothing makes us so lonely than our secrets."

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's press, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️— The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth— Out April 23, 2019
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy in exchange for a review!
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Lucy has a complicated relationship with her MIL. In fact everyone has a complicated relationship with Diana. The Diana ends up dead. And that cancer she said she had? Not real. Told in alternating views and time frames, Diana and Lucy’s stories show us this complicated relationship and how it could have ended up with someone being dead.
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So much yes! I read this book in two sittings. I loved the dynamics of each relationship in this book because it made me think of all the murder motives. Hepworth doesn’t do anything overly dramatic. She takes a plot of runs with it in the most perfect way. No outlandish twists. Everything is right in front of you, the question is if your guess is the right one. Which is why this was truly a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. So many suspense novels are beginning to drop in ridiculous plot lines. Not one plot line here was ridiculous! Loved this book!

I was hooked on this book from the start. I could not put it down and stayed up way past my bedtime to get through as much as I could every night. The writing was incredible and I had no idea where this story was going- or who committed the murder. The flashbacks were such incredible insights into how you sometimes don't really know the whole story. The characters were strong and the pace was fast where it kept me wanting more.
This is a must-read for 2019! Another excellent read by Sally Hepworth- she is one I will continue to watch.
I wish to thank St. Martins’s Press, NetGalley and Sally Hepworth for this incredible ARC.- I highly recommend it!

I admit, I started reading this book not thinking I’d like it too much...the whole mother-in-law/daughter-in-law theme. Boy was I wrong! The story was well written, and really described how things left unsaid can be misconstrued. Highly recommend!

This is my first book by Sally Hepworth. I've been eyeing her books for awhile and happened to get an ARC from NetGalley. I love mystery/suspense so I decided to read this title before her others. The chapters alternate between past and present and from the POV of Lucy (the daughter in law) and Diana (the mother in law). Lucy and Diana's relationship has been complicated from the beginning. Diana has always been polite with Lucy, but very reserved and kept her distance. All Lucy wants is to have a close relationship with Diana, especially since she lost her own mother at 13. The mystery starts in the beginning. Diana is found dead. At first glance it appears to be a suicide, but as more details are revealed the suicide seems like a cover up. Who would want Diana dead? I loved the alternating chapters and seeing the events in the past and how they shaped the future. I definitely wanted to keep reading to see what really happened to Diana. I'm looking forward to reading more of Sally Hepworth's books.

Loved, this was a page turner but not in the sense that it was a thriller. I never thought that the daughter in law had done it...

This book is written well, and I look forward to her next book!!

I read this book in 24 hours and am sad that it’s now finished. It will definitely be one of my top ten books of 2018. With the title and description being what they were I assumed that I would hate the character of the mother-in-law. But Ms. Hepsworth did an amazing job of making all of the characters layered. I loved loved loved this! Only question that remained for me is how did the MIL end up so wealthy?

I love all of Sally Hepworth’s books. Surprises and great characters are everywhere. They flow clearly and are never easy to put down, even to get a bite to eat. She is a fabulous writer and satisfies me with every book I read of hers.

Really enjoyed this book. A great read exploring the complex relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. With a mysterious death thrown in, this book will keep you gripped to the end.

I received this book "The Mother In Law" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. What an awesome book! The words flowed smoothly and I liked the characters, yes, even Diana. I couldn't wait to read this book each day. Family drama, a bit of a thriller, a page turner for sure.

I love Sally Hepworth and was so excited to get the opportunity to read The Mother-In-Law and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed how so many different relationships were explored in this book...Mother/Husband, Mother/children, Mother-in-law/Daughter-in-law. Part thriller and part family drama, this story pulled me in from the beginning .

I enjoyed The Mother in Law, but I definitely liked The Family Next Door better. This novel is in large part a character study and unfortunately I wasn't completely invested in either Lucy or Diana. Perhaps because of my lack of investment (which might have been due to my own mood, I'll admit) the novel dragged a bit for me. Don't get me wrong, I still wanted to know what happened to Diana, which was compelling. And Hepworth deftly handles the back and forth movement in time. But overall I never felt that pull to get back to my Kindle that I often find when I'm reading a great story. Nonetheless The Mother in Law is a sure bet for fans of thoughtful women's fiction, especially if you're interested in seeing how different people can interpret the same scenario in disparate ways.

Sally Hepworth has earned a spot in my favorite authors to read with this one. This is my first read by Sally and I can guarantee you it will not be my last. Such brilliant writing all the way to the end. Sally Hepworth keeps you guessing as to what will happen and then my whole idea of how it is going to end is blow clear out of the water. Very well thought out and planned for sure.

Lucy is a young lady that we soon find out has lost her mother early on in her life. Lucy's dad has stepped up and tried to fill both roles for her, but we all know that there are just times when a mom is needed. When Lucy falls in love with Ollie, she thinks that his mother may be able to fill in for some of those times when a mom is needed, but boy was Lucy wrong about that one.

Diana is a woman that has very little to say, but has a way with what she does end up saying that makes it cut clear down to the bone. We learn that Diana has a fondness for women and babies from other countries that are trying to make a living in the US. Diana has a foundation that helps with baby necessities and clothes for mother and baby. You would think that a woman like this would also have a big heart for her new daughter-in-law, right? Well, not so much.

Diana and Tom have been married for years and are very well off. Diana is not one to give her kids money for what they need or want though, and that is where some of the problem comes in with the family. Nettie (Diana and Tom's daughter) has been battling infertility issues for years and has been out lots of money on all the treatments. Tom is willing to help and ends up doing so behind Diana's back a lot. Ollie (Diana and Tom's son and Lucy's husband) has started a business with a longtime friend and things have not been going good for them in that aspect.

There are so many lessons to be learned in reading this story. I fell in love with all the characters and was heartbroken when I got to the end and found out what all had happened to each one of them and the way it all ends. Sally Hepworth pulls at your heart strings for sure with this read. This is not your typical murder mystery, but one that will leave an impression on your heart for awhile after you get done reading. I cannot wait to read more from Sally Hepworth. Definitely a favorite of mine now!

Thanks for Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own!

What a fantastic read! There is a mystery here but so much more. This story is told by alternating narrators (Diana the matriarch and Lucy the daughter in law) and switches from past to present. It flows seamlessly and serves to give all the characters such dimension.

The writing was so clever. We see numerous times how one scenario can be interpreted so differently between two people. The relationships were so deliciously complicated and surprising! The reveal was a good twist and the conclusion was extremely satisfying, highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in exchange for a review.

I finished my first NetGalley read, The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth and I was not disappointed. Throughout the book the narration is by both Diana, the mother-in-law and Lucy, the daughter-in-law. The chapters also switch back and forth between the past and the present. I felt like each chapter from Diana or Lucy’s past was like peeling an onion of their relationship. We learn so much about them as individuals and as a family {via marriage} it gives you a sense of who these two ladies are. Their pasts along with the present day of trying to find out how Diana died was enough to have me turning pages so quickly to find out what happened. Every time I thought I knew ... I had no idea. This story was a little thriller, a little who done it, and a lot of family drama all rolled into one. A must add to your TBR list for 2019! Thank you Netgalley and St. Marina Press for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I am a sucker for family drama, so this book had me from the blurb. A great balance of thriller and domestic drama that worked very nicely. I look forward to enjoying the author's other works.

Thanks for the early review copy!

I picked this up because of the cover. It was a well-written thriller with interesting characters. I recommend this book to fans of adult mysteries.

This is a great read. The author makes you care about the characters. Do not think that it is all feel good just like life it takes a turn and you will find yourself wanting to rush to end of the book to find out on things turn out (don't do it). It is well written and you will not want to stop reading until you get to the end.

I've been hooked on Sally Hepworth's books since discovering her via The Family Next Door earlier this year. It's been great going back and reading her earlier works, but I was super excited to get NetGalley approved for her new book: The Mother in Law.

Since the death of her mother Lucy has been seeking a maternal figure in her life. When she meets Ollie, she has high hopes his mother will fill that void in her life. Ollie's mother, Diana, is cold and distant though, not at all what Lucy was hoping for. One night the police turn up on Lucy and Ollie's door step with the news that Diana is dead, and everyone is lift wondering, what happened?

The story is told is present time through Lucy's point of view, and flashbacks to the past through from both Lucy and Diana's perspectives. Normally I'm not a fan of changing perspectives, but in this instance I really enjoyed it and thought it was well done. When one of the characters thought the others behaviour was strange, we would get to see inside their head and see the justification for that behaviour. These little insights really helped flesh out Lucy and Diana's characters.

I was utterly hooked, and actually knocked over the majority of the book in one sitting because I just did not want to put it down, I needed to know what happened next. And now it's over, I feel strangely lonely.

Another incredible read from Sally Hepworth. I'm seriously in love with this woman's writing.....but now I have to wait even longer for more....

**I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Something about this book that I can’t quite put my finger on, stuck out to me when I was browsing books to request. From the moment I started reading, I knew this book was one that I would not be able to put down. In fact, I found myself reading the whole thing in just a few hours.

Sally hooks you from the start with a book full of characters you think you’ve figured out, only to later realize you couldn’t be more wrong. Through the twists and turns of this book, you are left guessing til the very end. An end that you never really see coming, yet it makes all the sense in the world.

I just finished “The Mother- in -Law” and am speechless. I’ll be processing this book for days. Everything about this story was amazing. I laughed, cried, and felt so many emotions you’d think the characters were my actual family members. I’ve read over 100 books this year, and it is my favorite one (I don’t say that lightly). It is Sally Hepworth at her best.

This new compelling novel by Sally Hepworth will have you rapidly turning pages to follow the twisted path to the surprise ending. This novel is Sally Hepworth at her very best and one of my favorite books of the year.

When you get married, you become part of your husband's family. Most important of all is the mother-in-law that you gain. She can welcome you as part of the family or make your life a living hell because of her dislike of you. I won't admit which side I ended up on except to say that I really identified with Lucy. When Lucy meets her husband's family for the first time, she has dreams of her mother in law replacing her mother who died years earlier. She thought that they could become friends. She found out very quickly that Diana doesn't want to be her friend and really isn't it very nice to her. Five years later, after numerous battles large and small, Diana is found dead and Lucy is left to wonder who is to blame.

Lucy is a fantastic character - written like someone that you know - flaws and all. In the beginning of her marriage she tries so hard to make Diana like her but as their battles continue, she asserts her independence. By the time Diana is found dead any one of several characters could be to blame - was it suicide or was it someone in the family? As I read, my person to blame changed over and over until I got to the surprise ending that was just perfect!

Clear your calendar before you start The Mother-in-Law because you won't want to put the book down until the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I was given this book from NetGalley for an honest review-
There are two sides to every story. Lucy meets her cold rich mother in law.
The mother in law meets Lucy and doesn't know what to think - so begins the relationship.
The mother in law has struggled all her life to make a living and expects this from her family too. She doesn't believe in hand outs although her husband tends to slip things to the children.
Lucy's husband's business is going bottoms up. The daughter wants a baby and need money for fertility shots. The son in law is sick of baby wishing and begins having affairs.
And then - the mother in law is found dead!
Who killed her?

Sally Hepworth’s novel is about an Australian family, their relationships to each other and their communication, or lack there of. When Lucy marries Ollie she longs for a warm and loving surrogate mother. Instead she finds her mother-in-law cold and formal, and they have trouble understanding each other. But five years later when Diana commits suicide Lucy is startled to realize how much she misses her, and when murder is suspected, she is even more surprised, especially as they’re all under suspicion. The chapters alternate for the most part with Lucy and Diana, moving from past to present forming a complete picture as we get to know Ollie, his sister, Nellie, Patrick, her husband, and Tom, Diana’s beloved husband. This novel is a nuanced psychological thriller that drew me in from the first sentence until it’s startling but great conclusion. I highly recommend this books. Thanks for the chance to read an advance copy and give an honest review.

I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by Sally Hepworth and this is no exception! Great storytelling and writing style. This was a very compelling storyline about a somewhat complex family (aren’t they all!?) who has wealth and issues. Unfortunately some life lessons are a painful experience but we all have to learn to deal - or we can’t deal and the results aren’t pretty.

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth is not the normal "evil mother-in-law" scenario. The wide range of relationships in the story fits the saying, "it's complicated" to a "T". The characters are very well presented and each is relatable in their own unique way. The family dynamics feel genuine and not contrived. The mystery does hold throughout the book until the very end. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an advance of this title in exchange for my honest review. I thought I recognized the name of the author, but wasn't certain. I also thought I understood the plot of this book before I started reading it. I was wrong. This book was so intriguing and the characters well done. I felt I learned more about the characters as the story went on, and the way I felt about some of them completely flipped during my reading. Afterward, realized I had read another of the author's books, AND I took the opportunity to read another...also spot on! I added Sally Hepworth as an author to follow, and I think you'd love this title!

The Mother-in-Love is a riveting read that kept me hanging on to each and every word! This is one of those books that no matter how much you want to put it down you simply can't! I was so engrossed in the story that even when someone tried to talk to me, I barely heard a word.

Readers, this is a must read! I absolutely recommend it.

This was different than what I expected but this is a good thing! It was not the typical cliche mother-in-law story.

Police arrive at the door of Ollie and Lucy Goodwin's house. Ollie's mom had passed away. The story continues with a back and forth from Past to Present - sometimes only a page of one or the other. Ollie's mom is the focal point of the book. She (Diane) is complex. Although her life had been hard as a young woman, she sees that her family now has it too easy - they do not deserve any "handouts". Her love for her son, Ollie and daughter, Nettie is fierce. However, her love for refugee charity hails high on Diane's list, as well..

Lucy and Ollie are very much family-oriented . They have 3 young children that are dearly loved. Yet, Lucy has a difficult time communicating with/loving her mother-in-law. (Even after reading the book it is difficult to characterize Diane: the mother-in-law) Diane's daughter, Nettie, is married to Patrick (who is a philanderer). All Nettie cares about and thinks about is having a baby. This obsession has become an issue with the family.

Diane's husband, Tom, was truly the "love of her life" - a year after he passes away from ALS, Diane is forlorn. Desperate enough to end it all and contemplate suicide. She even enlists an unknowing (?) Lucy to help her place orders on the computer. (Assisted suicide in Australia can get one up to 25 years in prison).

So, why is there a question about how Diane dies? The police certainly have their ideas. This is brought out nicely as the plot unfolds. A thriller, it is. I must admit that I stayed up late (as do many avid readers!) to finish this brilliant read. I am sure you will, too!

Many Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an awesome advance read!!!!!

Interesting story of family dynamics and murder. Different communication styles create distrust and dislike through generations. This one is worth your time

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for sending me this Advanced Reader Copy. This book will be available for purchase on April 23rd, 2019, and I’m here to tell you that if you like mysteries, humor, rotating perspective, and you dislike your mother-in-law...this one’s for you. JUST KIDDING! You can absolutely adore your mother-in-law and still love this whodunnit.

Set in Australia, Diana Goodwin is your no nonsense, no drama mom who has worked for everything she has and takes nothing for granted. She’s not particularly known for her engaging or empathetic nature, which gives the police quite the job when she’s discovered dead in her home.

Whatever Diana lacked emotionally, her daughter-in-law Lucy has been personal witness to. She’s experienced firsthand the cold, dismissive demeanor of the dearly deceased and the Goodwin family dramatics. Married to Diana’s son, Ollie, Lucy is all too familiar with what it feels like to be on Diana’s bad side, and unfortunately for Lucy, the feeling has been mutual.

Caught up in a possible murder investigation, Lucy must rethink everything she’s assumed about her mother-in-law. As secrets are exposed, Lucy begins to question whether or not she ever truly knew Diana at all.

But Diana’s secrets won’t be the only ones to see the light of day...

Navigating their way through Diana’s death, her children, Ollie and Nettie, must put their faith in one another and try to mend the broken bridges of the past in order to move on and to find out what happened to Diana.
As I mentioned before, the book is narrated between two perspectives, Diana’s and Lucy’s. The story rotates between the present and the past, giving the reader their own front-row seat to the Goodwin family-technics, as I lovingly call them. Can you piece together what happened to Diana?

I found this book to be a lighthearted mystery. The characters are relatable, and, as the reader, you get both Lucy's and Diana’s perspectives, of which each is seriously misunderstanding of the other's—much as in real life, which makes this novel all the more accessible and profound.

Who hasn't had a negative thought about their mother-in-law? Who has never thought critically of their daughter-in-law? How many of us have wished we had taken that opportunity to say something nice, but instead remained silent? You don’t need to have a tumultuous relationship to understand the complexity of the mother-daughter-by-marriage dynamic.

All in all, I finished the book on a positive note, feeling satisfied with the ending, and discovering a newly found respect for my own MIL relationship. Hence the 4 out of 5 rating I’m giving this little gem.
Remember, ya’ll...you never know what someone else is going through. Act accordingly.

I just adore Sally Hepworth! This is another great novel that involves great family drama, but allows an underlining theme of loss, infertility, compassion and connection. This book was almost impossible to put down. Some parts had me laughing out loud, thinking of my own awkward family moments, while other parts of the novel had me in tears. This book was fantastic and I can't wait until everyone is able to read The Mother-in-Law, so we can talk about it!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this book!

Lucy has been looking for a mother figure for most of her life and hopes to have finally found that in Diana, her mother in law. But that’s not to be the case. Now Diana is dead and the police want to know who is responsible. With a broad cast of characters, it could be anyone.
The ending was great and the book was a page turner. You won’t be sorry for reading this one!

Good domestic drama about the Goodwin family. Family matriarch, Diana, is dead, but who killed her? There are ample suspects including the victim herself. That is the mystery part. The drama part is learning about their pasts and present relationships culminating in an innovative end. Sally Hepworth can write!

The Mother-in-Law is the first book I’ve read by Sally Hepworth. I was very intrigued by this books’ synopsis. The Mother-in-Law is told through alternating viewpoints of Lucy, the daughter-in-law, and Diana, the mother-in-law. At the very beginning of the book, we learn that Diana has died, and the rest of the book goes between the past and present till the truth about Diana’s death is revealed. Family struggles and secrets are interspersed throughout the journey that kept my attention from start to finish. Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be an engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and provide an honest review.

I went into this book with an idea of what happened. Sally Hepworth took that assumption and blew it right out of the water. I thought this was going to be a standard evil mother-in-law story with a dash of suspense, but it was so much more.

I received an ARC of The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth from NetGalley to read and review. Going in I instantly thought this was going to be a story about some evil, vicious mother-In-law. Boy, I was wrong! I can honestly say that I didn’t totally hate her. Yes, I felt she was a little different, a little harsh at times, but I believe it was all due to the earlier life she had lived. I would consider it to be a domestic thriller that had a twist at the end that I definitely didn’t see coming. I was totally shocked and surprised at how it all played out. If you enjoy reading suspenseful thrillers, then you should give this book a try. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy of The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth. I tried really hard to wait a few more months to read this but I just couldn’t wait. It got me out of my miserable book slump and the mom quotes were spot on so big points right there!

This story is told with two POVs with alternating time lines between past and present. Lucy, the daughter in law, and Diana, the mother in law, are our two main voices.

Lucy was very excited to marry into Ollie’s family but quickly learned that Diana was not very welcoming. It seemed to Lucy that Diana always kept her at an arms length. Their relationship was polite but strained.

Diana and her husband, Tom, are extremely wealthy. She believes her children, Ollie and Nettie, should work hard for what they want. When both Ollie and Nettie come to her with money problems she denies them right away.

Right in the first chapter we know Diana was found dead with a suicide note. The rest of the story tells us what lead this family up to this point. To me, this wasn’t your typical evil mother in law story. While reading The Mother In Law I felt like I was suppose be on either Lucy’s side or Diane’s side but I was on both!

Family drama, money, lies, tired moms, and a little bit of mystery yessss 🙌🏼 5 stars ⭐️

Not what I expected, which only made me love this book SO much MORE!
An incredibly well written story high-lighting the relationship between a mother and her daughter-in-law, but also touches on the lives and aspects of the whole family. The novel starts with Lucy and Ollie (her husband, Diane's son) being told that Diane has been found dead in her home and it appears to have been suicide, but murder cannot be ruled out. The narrative switches between Diane (mother-in-law) and Lucy (daughter-in-law), and between the past and the present which adds so many layers and depth not just to the story, but to the characters as well, which I loved! I felt invested in Diane and finding out what happened to her, and in Lucy with her relationship with Diane. I found myself loving both characters and disliking both characters at different times throughout the novel, which is an incredibly difficult thing for an author to do! The story unfolded beautifully and had me captivated the entire time. I will absolutely be recommending this one to friends and family. Can't wait for its release!!

You always hear about the complicated relationships between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. This book takes a look at one such relationship and how its dynamics affect the rest of the family.

Lucy is looking forward to meeting her future mother-in-law and, thinking of the things she missed out on with her own mother passing away when Lucy was a child, looking forward to the relationship she hopes they will have. However, Ollie's mother, Diana, is not the warm and fuzzy person she was expecting and things between them are strained from the very beginning, especially after Lucy overhears Diana referring to her as "just fine" (fine??? ugh).

Flash forward five years to present day; Ollie and Lucy are happily married with three children of their own. They receive shocking news from the police one night; Diana has been found dead in her home from an apparent suicide. Over the next week, they come together with Ollie's sister, Nettie, and her husband Patrick, to plan the funeral and attend the reading of the will. Meanwhile, the police keep questioning all four of them because it seems that Diana's death wasn't actually a suicide...

I loved this book! Alternating between past and present and between Lucy and Diana's points of view, it gives an interesting look at the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, as well as parent and child, in-laws in general, husband and wife, and friends and colleagues.. Maybe things aren't as bad as they seem? Or maybe they're worse than you thought? There is a bit of mystery, especially surrounding Diana's death, but this isn't a thriller. It's more of a slow build with some fantastic character development. I would absolutely recommend this - 5 stars from me!

I received a ARC of #The Mother-In-Law from #NetGalley, #St. Martin's Press

Dianne the mother in law of Lucy is found dead in what is thought to be a suicide. Evidence found points to murder rather than suicide. The story is told from multiple points of view, which I enjoyed. This story will keep you guessing until the end.

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I would like to thank the publisher, author and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review..
This was a fabulous read that is going on my top 10 list for the year. I’m so glad I started it on a holiday as I could not put it down. A domestic thriller that traces the contentious history of a woman and her mother in law that just happens to end in murder. The story is set in Australia and does an excellent job of portraying the complex dynamics and hidden secrets of family.

I read this novel hoping to get a new take one a familiar theme. Most times you're disappointed. But this twisted thriller hooked me and dragged me through to the end. I was pleasantly surprised. Solid, all the way through.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Net Galley and St.Martin's Press.

An interesting story and a good mystery. From the start, we know the mother-in-law is dead, so suspense is not expected.

I will start by saying that I gave an amazing relationship with my mother-in-law—she couldn’t be more loving, supportive and kind and I am thankful for her every single day. Having said that, there is something fascinating about the relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law. It starts when the women are mature people, set in their ways. The boundaries of the relationship are ill defined and nebulous, so easy to step over by accident or on purpose, bruising feelings irrevocably.

I’ve been a fan of Sally Hepworth since I read her beautiful book, The Things We Keep, and with her newest release she has finally achieved that high bar again. This Mother-In-Law is a completely different book, more domestic suspense than women’s fiction, but equally enjoyable. I devoured it in two days, fiendishly turning the pages to figure out what happened to Diana, which or her family members was involved in her death and why. This is a book for anyone who loves a twisty turny suspense novel, who loves well developed characters and believable motivations. I loved every minute and I can’t wait for her next book.

What a fantastic book!

At the beginning, it got a little bit confusing going back in the past and then bouncing back to the present, especially a couple of parts that were in the past and the scene/day seemed to jump to another unrelated one in the next sentence, but this is an un-corrected proof, so maybe that’s not the case in the final product. Regardless of that, this was a great read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying book.

You don't have to have ambivalent feelings about your mother inl aw to have strong ones about Diana, the eponymous woman at the center of this thoroughly engrossing and well-written novel that abjures the currently fashionable trend of unreliable female narratives in favor of creating complex, multidimensional characters who have different but equally understandable perceptions of themselves and the events that drive the plot. While Diana and Lucy, her daughter in law, are the most vividly drawn characters in the novel, the other members of this family are also fully realized - their dreams and expectations as well as the central relationship in the book, are brilliantly depicted. Although a death is at the center of the plot, it's the lives of this middle class Australian family that drives the narrative to its denouement.

A story of a dysfunctional family, murder, suicide and money. I was hooked on the first page. When I was forced to put it down because of life things happening I was very frustrated until I could get back to it. More twists and turns than a mountain road kept the story fresh throughout. A must read for all mystery fans.

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth is a mystery/thriller novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in murder...

From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

Chapters alternate between past and present from the POV of Lucy, the daughter-in-law to Diana, the mother-in-law.

The story is set in Melbourne, Australia. Lucy is married to Ollie with three young children. Ollie's parents, Tom and Diana, and a sister Nettie and her husband, Patrick, complete the family package. One big happy family!

That was five years ago.

Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.

But the autopsy finds no cancer…but does find traces of poison and suffocation.

Who could possibly want Diana dead?

Why was her will changed at the last moment to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?

In The Mother-in-Law, the under minding characters, the mystery and the storyline all came together like a jigsaw puzzle, to deliver a gripping family drama about family dynamics and the shocking secrets that come to light.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for my digital copy.

Another can’t put down book by Sally Hepworth! A relationship with the mother-in-law can be tricky. And it’s sometimes built on what we think we know....but what about the things we don’t know? Hepworth’s style of having the chapters focus on either the MIL Diana or the DIL Lucy has a way of bringing past and present together in an unusual, compelling way. This book is more than a psychological thriller...it’s a compassionate story of lives. Well worth the read...I definitely recommend it! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and publisher in return for an honest review, which this has been.

I absolutely loved this novel. Ms. Hemsworth created such well rounded characters. I love that each chapter is from a different angle and character. At first, I wished Diana would have told more of herself but it left a bit of mystery. 5 stars.

A unique thriller told from several character viewpoints and time frames. This storytelling was a addictive slow reveal offering little peeks at the characters and their relationships. It made me want to keep turning the pages to find out what happened to Diana, the mother-in-law and it illustrated all the things we don't know about people, even our own family. This was a Ruth Rendell-esque psych-thriller. I can't wait to see what Sally Hepworth will turn out next.

Thank you to Net Galley for for ARC. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book from it's title. It was an interesting read. At first, Diana seems cold-hearted and ruthless. But as the story develops you see there are many layers to Diana and why she is the way she is. Does she love her children? Without a doubt and the decisions she makes may be harsh but she is trying to prepare them for life. Talk about tough love. I recommend this book. A good read and kept my interest.

‘The problem is it’s so easy for a mother-in-law to get it wrong.’

Lucy wanted to please her mother-in-law Diana, but, how could she? Diana kept her at arm’s length: polite, but remote. And Diana was one of those near perfect women: prominent in the community, an advocate for social justice, a woman who helped female refugees settle into life in Australia. Diana and her husband Tom were happily married and wealthy.

And then, some years later, Diana is found dead. There’s a suicide note in which Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer. But while an autopsy finds no trace of cancer, there are traces of poison and evidence of suffocation. Who killed Diana, and why? Why did Diana change her will to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?

Yes, there’s a mystery here. The novel also addresses other difficult issues, including both extremes of the fertility issue: having an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy and the challenges and costs of fertility treatment. As the story unfolds over several decades, we learn more about Diana and her motivation as well as about Lucy.

This is the first of Ms Hepworth’s novels I’ve read. It won’t be the last. Highly recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

OMG!! I really loved this book. It goes to show how people can see different situations in different ways. Was very entertaining and I would recommend whole-heartedly!!

What a captivating book that is so hard to put down. Lucy joins the Goodwin family through marriage and while she and her father in law Tom connect easily, she struggles to understand her mother in law Diana. Diana and Tom are well to do and their children Ollie and Nettie often come to them for money to which Tom says yes while Diana refuses. After Toms death, Lucy and Diana begin to connect and become close. Diana asks Lucy to help her set up an email that will help her obtain things she needs to end her own life. When Diana is found dead things don’t quite add up. Who killed her and why?

To me, in-law drama is one of the most, if not THE most, fascinating type of drama. I've experienced plenty of this and feel like I have a good understanding of some of the causes of in-law drama. This book delves deeply into this particular type of drama, if you couldn't tell from the title! Of course that is what initially caught my attention. It was interesting getting a "behind-the-scenes" look at the MIL's point of view, as I myself am a daughter-in-law and its always great to have a better understanding of "the other side". This book picked up quickly, kept my interest, and had quite an interesting finish. In my opinion it was not as good as The Family Next Door, which I loved, but I still give it 4 stars, The characters are complex, and so is the story line.

Just a fabulous book! Loved it - the whole thing through! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this copy for my honest opinion.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the way the author provided a plausible different POV. Lucy is a daughter-in-law who finds her mother-in-law to be cold and difficult. Diana is the other half of this relationship and, with experience and wisdom, provides a different perspective that is equally compelling. Both narratives make perfect sense and the reader (at least I did) understood both of them perfectly. This, I think was the real objective of the novel. Through the turmoils of life, Diana and Lucy, very different in backgrounds and personalities, find they are not so different in essential ways.

The unraveling of the possible homicide or suicide is interesting and provides a perfect backdrop for a well written novel. The reason the book held my interest was, at times, to find out why or if a crime had been committed, but in reality I was smitten by the evolution of the main narrators. Also fascinated by the stubborn stasis of other characters. Very well written book.

https://amusingreviews.blogspot.com/2018/11/review-mother-in-law.html

I've seen this author:s name before, but never read one of her books until now. After finishing The Mother-in law in 24 hour, I have reserved Hepworths other books
Needless to say this book was unbelievable. Part of it ours at my heart strings and made me cry and parts had me racing through to see what really happened to poor Diana. The title.made me think this would be a story of evil in- law against innocent daughter in law drama. This was not the case. This book shows how deeply a mother loved her children and extended family and will do anything for them.
Pre+order this gem now, you will love it.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be found on my GoodReads page at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly.

I really liked this. Nuanced, layered story with interesting characters. Put it on your list. Free advanced copy from Netgalley, comes out April 2019

I enjoyed this book. I found Diana a hard character to like, even with her backstory. I thought story was well paced, and there weren't too many unnecessary sub-plots going on to distract from the overall concept of the book.

Overall I would recommend this book.

Definately a 5 star and if I could give it a higher rating, I would. Sally Hepworth has done it again in a big way. I absolutely loved this book.

I have been a fan of Sally Hepworth for a while now and her new novel did not disappoint me. I was so intrigued and engrossed in this book from the first chapter and I loved the way the author wrote the different point of views. I feel this showed me more of an insight into each character's thoughts and why they made the decisions/choices they did. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading women's fiction and/or family suspense.

This book kept me on my toes. Well written and developed, the plot line is both suspenseful and entertaining. I couldn't stop turning the page. I loved the drama and the characters. I am now a true fan of the author. Excellent.

I couldn’t stop reading this book. Wow! Right from the beginning, this book grabs you and never lets you go. Told in alternating perspectives this book will take you on one of the most thrilling rides with all the twist that it has. I don’t regret reading this and I now know why Hepworth is praise for her exceptional stories. This book is not predictable at all, you will be shocked and surprised with all the unexpected secrets that start to come out into the light. I continuously kept saying, “I never saw that coming.” The unforgettable characters are also one of the best parts of this book, I really felt every single detail with Diane and Lucy. I understood their feelings in some weird ways but it made me feel connected to the story. Overall, if you like reading thrillers pick this one up because it won’t disappoint. Thank you St.Martins for sending me an early copy of the book.

I really enjoyed the format of this book as it switched from the mother-in-law- to her daughter and daughter-in-law. One usually does not get the mother-in-law's perspective on her family. There are quite a few twists to keep threader engrossed and I would highly recommend this book.

This is a dual narrator book that keeps you thinking.

There is Lucy, the daughter-in-law and Diana AKA 'the mother-in-law'. The description will tell you that Diana is dead. How she got there is the point of the book. It is not your typical domestic suspense where at least one character is flat and stereotypical. Both narrators are well thought out and developed. This lead to me reading into the wee hours on a work night because I soo wanted to know what happened.

The book also takes you to the past and the present as you learn how Diana came to be dead. This allows you to see how the family grew and changed and to see how what you THOUGHT you knew was really just one person's version and the other's is very different. Is different a bad thing or just two women who came from different generations and each had circumstances in their life that the other was not aware of.

Definitely recommend. Thank you Netgalley.

For those doing any travel or vacationing, read The Mother-in-Law. I made the mistake of starting The Mother-in-Law on a Sunday night and it made me preoccupied all through the work week. I did not want to put it down. This book flows very well and has great character development. What a page turner! If you like family dramas with some mystery - this is for you!!

Diana is a mother and mother-in-law...not the easiest person to get to know or love. Lucy lost her mother at a young age and would love nothing more than to have Diana fill that spot she so needs.

I loved this book....family dynamics at its best! The writing was flawless. Told in Diana (mother-in-law) and Lucy (Daughter-in-law) past and present voices. You really get to see the personalities and the makings of these woman and the people they love. The story switches seemlessly from each voice and tense....making this book so hard to put down. Your heart will break for each character...misunderstood, wanting and fierce. This is a book about family; the good, the bad and the ugly.

I loved Ms. Hepworth’s writing since I’ve read The Things We Keep was one of the saddest and beautifully written books. She writes about family dynamics and scenarios with honesty and caring and a twist! Warning: clear your calendar before picking up any of her books...you will get nothing done until the book is finished!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Ms Hepworth for this ARC. Opinion given is my own.

Relationships can be complicated, especially when it involves the "Mother-in-law".

A twisted family situation and a hidden motive lead to murder. The MIL is Diana and my opinion of her changed so many times throughout the book and she certainly surprised me in the end.

The first chapter was intense and sets the stage for a compelling read. We get the POV of Diana and Lucy (the daughter in law). Their relationship is complicated and Lucy has many insecurities when it comes to Diana. The author explores the roles of all the family members into the mix that led to much pondering on my part. Who is at fault here?

A shocker was exposed as the mystery unraveled and all the pieces fell in place. It had me to retracing the previous events to see more clearly how it had led to utter devastation and murder. I had almost all the characters as suspects at some point.

I enjoyed this twisted family drama and never saw the last piece of the puzzle until it was added. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and all the suspense it created, the rest of the story was more about the family dynamics. You should keep in mind that this is a women'ts fiction with some suspense, but more family drama. I did enjoy it and I thought it was a thought provoking story,

Solid read with a side of family drama and a whodunit element.

The very nature of those words conjures up all kinds of emotion. For some, the emotions are hysterical and not in a good way. For others, the emotions are "they're okay" and for others "you're my husband's mother, but stay away from me." However, for Lucy try as hard as she could, she didn't get along with her MIL!!! Relationships are difficult, at best. Between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, even more so. As we read on, we learn, through past and present stories of both Lucy and Diana, what in their lives make them the women they ultimately become. But when Diana turns up dead, that is another story entirely.

As the novel evolves, you appreciate the character development. The book is hard to put down, as I've read it in one day. The writing is superb, the depth of all the characters is spot-on, you can see what makes them tick. A highly recommended novel! My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read one of Sally Hepworth’s earlier novels last year and immediately connected with her writing style and storytelling approach. I marked the rest of her books as TBR, then saw The Mother-in-Law available via NetGalley. I was lucky enough to be approved for an ARC earlier this week and began reading it right away. What an emotional and angst-ridden tale about the relationship between several family members who can feel all too real and all too fake at the exact same time. I truly enjoyed this book and give it 4.5 stars. Let’s get into some specifics…

Lucy lost her mother when she was young. Although her father was wonderful, she never felt that connection with an older female who could guide her through becoming a mother, caring for a family, or securing your own position in the world as a strong, intelligent woman. When she meets Ollie, and he wants to introduce her to his family, Lucy is nervous but hopeful it fills a hole that’s been growing for far too long. Unfortunately, when Lucy meets his mother, Diana, it becomes quite clear that won’t happen.

Diana had a difficult childhood and was essentially almost forced to give Ollie up as a baby. When she was kicked out, Diana learned how to build something from nothing and to care for her family when she didn’t even have a place to live. She used that savvy experience to become a major player in an organization that helps young women trying to escape from difficult circumstances in their own country and move to America for a better life. Diana also developed a thick skin and an attitude that no one should be given a handout without working for it in return.

Although the story alternates chapters from Lucy’s and Diana’s viewpoints throughout the decade they know one another, there are other characters who help show what each woman is truly made of. Diana’s husband, Tom, is the complete opposite of her; he’s a lovable, genuine, and thoughtful husband and father who gets sick. Ollie’s sister and her husband are desperate for a baby and go to the extremes to make it happen with or without their family’s support and money. Ollie’s best friend becomes his business partner and wreaks havoc on a complex family relationship. Then there’s the 3 young children Ollie and Lucy have during that first decade. Throw in Diana’s untimely death, mysterious circumstances that make it look like a suicide but also a murder… and you’ve got quite a psychological exploration of what it means to be a parent and an in-law.

This book explores that fine line of how you say things without coming across as insensitive or rude, how you determine when to let a mistake happen so a new parent learns on her own how to care for the child, and how you deal with making a decision when you and your spouse are on opposite sides of how to best support your children. At times, Diana was truly a horrific witch of a human being. You come to realize she kinda knows the way she’s behaving is wrong, but it’s been ingrained in her. When she softens, you want to root for her. You want to believe she will turn that corner and do the right thing. Then she goes in the opposite direction, unlike Lucy, who is nearly consistent almost the entire time. She sucks it up when Diana is rude or distant. She does all the things she doesn’t want to do just so she doesn’t look like she’s being difficult. Until something bad happens, then Lucy blows up.

While 90% of me sides with Lucy, I do understand Diana’s approach. And it works in many circumstances; however, there comes a time when you let someone try to help themselves for only so long before it becomes too late. If you have an excess of money, and your children need it, don’t hold on to it forever if they have put years into helping themselves only to fail for reasons out of their control. Eventually, Diana begins to see the light, but it’s too late. Too much has been set in action, and her death is imminent. Was she murdered by one of these people who felt she went too far? Did she commit suicide because she felt guilty? Was it a freak and unexpected accident? You’ll have to read the book to find out, but I believe it’s worth it.

I couldn’t put the novel down. If I did, within 15 minutes, I kept telling myself ‘just one more chapter.’ Hepworth is brilliant at displaying angst, love, pain, and despair in a family who needs a little therapy to heal and forgive. It’s down-to-earth, regular actions and words that remind you of your own world (not the drama necessarily, but the way people relate to one another) feel comfortable yet push you just enough to question how you think about a situation. I adored this book and would love to give it a full 5-stars, but there were a few items I thought could have been a bit more tidy to be absolutely perfect. The ending is ‘ten years’ in the future which is great, but I would love to have seen some of the immediate drama after Diana’s death. We get a lot, but once the true reason she died is discovered, there’s a bit of a windy wrap-up without a clear enough focus on everyone’s reactions to the truth. I don’t want to spoil this surprise, but ultimately, if you’re gonna throw a curveball at us, give us a few reactions from the rest of the people involved so we sense a complete and thorough emotional see-saw when learning what happened to your family member.

That said, it’s a high recommendation from me… can’t wait to see what others think when it comes out in early 2019.

Praise to Sally Hepworth for this novel! I thought it was going to be the typical Mother-in-Law story, but it was a gift that just kept on giving. The characters were well developed and there were twists throughout the book. Highly recommend!

A deeper look into family dynamics and what may be known v unknown. I liked reading the viewpoints between both women in the past and present. Definitely a book worth reading for anyone interested in a family-based drama.

This book started off slow for me and took me a while to get into it, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down!

It alternates viewpoints from the MIL Diana and her DIL Lucy as well as going from past to present. There were many different layers for each of the characters and they slowly peel back as the book goes on. Also there were lots of emotionally charged topics brought up and a surprise twist ending!

A great read. A story about a multi generational family living in Australia. The mother in law seems to have conflicts with all her children and their spouses . Great story line, I loved all the characters in this book. Would highly recommend it to family and friends. Thanks for my advanced copy.

Lucy feels that she has never lived up to her mother-in-law Diana's expectations. Diana has disliked her since their first meeting, and they've never had a good connection. Lucy thinks that Diana despises her.

This story is told in dual perspectives - Lucy's and Diana's - in the present with flashbacks to the past. Diana is many things to many people: wife, mother, friend, philanthropist, daughter, and sister. Lucy is the outsider trying to be accepted into the family, only to fail time and time again. However, Diana is not your typical mother-in-law villain and that's what makes the story so good. I wanted to dislike her, but she was oddly endearing and I understood her motivations.

The author could have chosen another character for the second perspective, but I think that daughter-in-law Lucy's perspective gives the story a fresh, new outlook, and it's brilliant. She is outside of the immediate family, and has a different view on the same events. It makes the plot very unusual.

This book is about love, family, secrets, money, marriage, resentment, and of course, the in-law relationships. It also delves into the dynamics of relationships between husbands & wives, siblings, parents & children, and friends. The situations are very relatable and will make you think of your own relationships.

The Mother-In-Law reminds me of Liane Moriarty's books. The writing is excellent, the plot is laced with humor and insight, and it's more of a character study than a whodunnit. I liked Sally Hepworth's first book, The Family Next Door, but I think that this second book is much, much better. The story had a few surprises too, and the ending wrapped everything up nicely. It's excellent and it's a standout book with layered, complex, and engaging characters, and a death surrounded in the mystery of complicated human relationships.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel.
Diana is a pillar in the community, well-known for her altruistic charity work, married to her wealthy husband Tom with two adult children, Oliver and Nettie. When Lucy marries Ollie, she is full to the brim with expectation, desperately hoping Diana can become the mother she always dreamed of. However, Diana does not live up to the image in Lucy’s head, occasionally appearing to be stand-offish and cold, and Lucy too, worries that she isn’t Diana’s idea of the perfect match for her beloved son. Years later, Diana is found dead in her home from an apparent suicide and soon questions arise that make the police believe Diana did not intend to end her life. The police are quick to point fingers, and when it is quickly discovered that both Ollie and Nettie have been left out of Diana’s will, everyone in Lucy’s life, including Lucy herself, is a suspect.
Sally Hepworth, author of (most recently) “The Family Next Door”, returns with her newest novel, “The Mother in Law”, highlighting the confusing and often terse relationship between mother, and daughter-in-law.
The story is told from the perspective of both Lucy and Diana, and takes place both in present day, and in the days of Diana’s youth. Although a little bit disjointed (and I am hardly a fan of this method of storytelling to begin with), I understand the need as this bit of plot development helped the readers understand Diana’s back story in much greater depth.
The cast of characters is small, which makes for a great who-dunnit, as everyone has a reason to be a suspect. Hepworth does not make it easy for you, either! “Mother in law” has enough twists and turns to keep a reader guessing and engaged, until the very satisfying ending. Although not entirely unpredictable, the ending has its own moments of surprise and suspense, while still serving the purpose of wrapping up the storyline.
Hepworth has created characters in Lucy and Diana that are extremely relatable. Whether a mother of a son, or a wife/partner to one, “Mother in Law” will reopen old wounds, reveal fresh ones, and even maybe provide a bit of comfort and reassurance. Told from the perspective of both women, “Mother” explores a highly emotional, and intensely human, relationship.
Well written and developed, the plot line is both suspenseful and entertaining. Strong characters round out a gripping tale of the secrets families keep hidden. Although I would’ve liked a more fluid telling (as I always prefer), “Mother” is highly recommended! New to Hepworth, I have some catching up to do!

Many people do not like their mother-in-laws, but is that dislike enough to want to kill them? When Lucy's mother-in-law is found dead, it seems as if she committed suicide, but the police open an investigation and a variety of people are under suspicion, including Lucy, her husband, Ollie’s sister, Nettie, and her husband, Patrick.

When Lucy married Ollie, she also married Diana, Ollie’s mother. Though Lucy tried her best to forge a relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana made it difficult. But instead of breaking into stereotypes and predictability, Hepworth tells her story from both Lucy and Diana’s perspectives. Through a series of flashbacks, the reader learns about what makes Diana tick and why she is the way she is. My favorite part of this novel is when the novel focuses on Lucy and Diana's relationship. Lucy chose to be a stay at home mother to her three children while Ollie struggles to get his job placement company off the ground. Diana devotes herself to her charities, including one to help pregnant immigrants, but fails to be present for the birth of her first grandchildren. Meanwhile, Lucy’s sister-in-law struggles with infertility.

Hepworth takes time to develop all of the cast and though the story focuses on Diana and Lucy’s relationship and the questions behind Diana’s death, Hepworth devotes time and attention to the other plots, which manage to weave themselves into the over all “whodunit” and why.

"The Mother-in-Law" is a page turner, which kept me guessing to the very end. I loved Hepworth’s novels since reading “Secrets of Midwives,” and though this novel is a departure, fans of Hepworth’s narrative will not be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks also to St. Martin's Press and the author, Sally Hepworth.

This was a great 5 Star read!! Totally enjoyed the in depth character development as well as suspense woven throughout the story. Plenty of red herrings to go around. By the time I thought I knew ‘who dunnit ‘ another twist would pop up and surprise me.
Really liked the storyline and A great dark twisted ending!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this book! I loved the family aspect. I loved the depth of the characters and the dialogue. It was real and heartfelt and I felt a part of the family! Five stars! Highly recommend!

This is the second book by Sally Hepworth I have read and thoroughly enjoyed! The Mother-in-law was a fast-paced read that kept you guessing the entire time. Every family has their quirks and difficulties. This family was no different. Diana is the matriarch of the family and struggles with everyone it seems. You know from the beginning Diana has died. It appears to be a suicide but the cops aren't convinced. You follow the web of lies and difficulties the family has been through to find out what really happened with Diana. Overall, a great read. I highly recommend! I will be looking for other works by Sally Hepworth! Special Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and Sally Hepworth for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
@StMartinsPress @NetGalley @SallyHepworth

I loved this book! Sally Hepworth once again kept me guessing. I admit that I hated this mother in law... which had me suspecting everyone! This was so well written, and the characters so real to me. I definitely saw a good side to Diana whenever it was her character’s turn for a chapter. She was just awkward in some ways, so it left people with a bad taste in their mouth. In the end it was a different light that I saw her in. Very good book, and I will definitely be recommending this to friends. So glad I was lucky enough to be able to read an ARC through Netgalley.

4.5* Relationship Stars

This story begins with the death of Diana who is the mother-in-law to Lucy. What appears to be a suicide is quickly quashed when the police begin investigating and find out that it could be a possible homicide instead.

The book was told from multiple points of view being Diana and Lucy and alternated between the past and the present. This gave an interesting look into the difficult relationship between Lucy and Diana as well as Diana’s relationship with her children Ollie and Nettie. The characters were very realistic and well developed.

The story had you guessing throughout and there were secrets and surprises along the way in this family drama.

Sally Hepworth is a wonderful writer and storyteller and I would highly recommend this exciting read. I enjoyed the last chapter. “Ten Years Later” as it tied up the book wonderfully.

Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review.

This was one of best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. It is based on a woman’s at-odds relationship with her mother in law and told from both their points of view, totally adding to the story. When the mother in law dies in suspicious circumstances it opens a huge family can of worms and the results mean things will never be the same.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I’m really, really lucky to have an angel for a mother-in-law, but I know that’s very rarely the case. I so enjoyed the way this story was told, where we see Lucy’s experience as well as Diana’s. It’s such a good reminder beyond even the in-law relationship, too - even when we don’t understand, someone may truly be doing their best to be supportive to us and do the right thing.

Per usual (haha), I didn’t figure out the big reveal of who did it until it was revealed.

This was my first book from this author, and I’ll be picking up another for sure!

This book was truly one of a kind. It took on the tough subject of daughter in law and mother in law relationships. Ms Hepworth did an awesome job of identifying the relationship and the dance that the in-laws typically do. I truly never knew if I was going to like Diana in the next chapter or not. She was so great to the community however to her family she was so in-different. The family dynamics were truly amazing in this book. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to my friends.

Wow this book was sooooo good! This is my.first book by this author and definitely won't be my last. This is told in 2 points of view.
Just read the blurb and one click this when it comes out!

Awesome! That is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Sally Hepworth's latest book, The Mother-in-Law. The book has some great, well-defined characters with complicated relationships. How many people can't identify with the relationships between monther-in-law's and daughter-in-laws? Sometimes, it doesn't matter how nice a person is, they just can't seem to mesh.

The story begins when Lucy meets her now husband's mother, Diana, for the first time. Diana is not what you would call 'warm and fuzzy', she's cold but rich...and not too generous, lucky for her children her husband is the polar opposite! I really believe Diana is just misunderstood, she's complicated. The story is told between both Lucy and Diana, so we can see both points of view, which is done so well, especially since it jumps between past and present day. I'm not sure too many autheror's could pull this off, but Ms Hepworth certainly did it justice.

When Diana is found dead, and a suicide note is found, but other clues don't fit in with a suicide theory. The secrets of Diana's children, her son, Ollie, and daughter Nettie, start to unravel. Money troubles plague them, as well as Nettie's desire to unsuccessfully have a child of her own, and we see how Diana handles each problem as it arises. As the police start to investigate, and it becomes pretty clear this is a homicide, could one of Diana's own children or in-laws be to blame for her death? As the story plays out, we really believe any of them could be guilty. This is so well written, with characters you love to hate, once you start it, you will not be able to put it down. It is really that good! I have a read a few books by Sally Hepworth, all good, but this is by far one of my favorite books of the year!

I would like to thank St Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced read copy of this fabulous book! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!

I was really excited to be able to review this for you all. This book did not disappoint one bit. When you hear “mother-in-law” what first comes to mind? Monster-In-Law maybe? Why is that? Could it be because mothers only want what is best for their kids? Could it be because they think they know what’s in their kids best interest? Could it be that she just wants to protect them? Save them from past struggles? Give them something to work for? Give them a meaning to be oneself? You’d never know the truth behind a mom’s motivation towards her kids.

I’m not going to lie, I went into this book with the assumption of an evil mother in law. I mean I had personally just dealt with the terms of a monster-in-law, so I just mentally assumed what I shouldn’t. This book was all over in terms of who the better character was Lucy or Diana. It was such an interesting and different take to emotional family dynamics. This book was both dark, dynamic, and engaging. I read it fairly quickly because I was really into this book.

Anyways, this book is definitely not what you could expect. It is greater than that. It is more than that. It will make you rethink your own opinions about your monst…Mother-In-Law.

Dual perspectives and a storyline will keep you intrigued in this newest novel by Sally Hepworth. Strained relationships, family secrets and a clever who-done it. I was hooked!

This was my first Sally Hepworth book and I will definitely be reading more!
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From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned.
Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.
But the autopsy finds no cancer.
The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation.
Who could possibly want Diana dead?
Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?
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This was a quick read and had some good twists. I really enjoyed getting to know these two characters. And I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review. The Mother-In-Law will be released on April 23, 2019. #netgalley #bookreview

5 STARS! This is going in my top favorites of all time! Sally Hepworth has quickly became one of my favorite authors and this novel proves how talented she is.

I'm sure everyone has a problem with their mother-in-law at least once. Sometimes, they aren't the easiest to get along with or they are too overbearing or they just can't let go of their baby. Sally Hepworth explores the dynamic between a woman and her mother-in-law.

Lucy met Ollie and fell in love. She was so excited about becoming a part of his family but it always seemed she was never good enough for her mother-in-law, Diana. She tried to form a special bond with Diana but never could. Diana wasn't the nicest person to everyone which became evident when she was found dead in her home. Was it suicide, like the note said? Or did something more sinister happen?

Told between two points of view (Lucy and Diana), this story is filled with twists and turns and will have your jaw dropping on the floor! I already know it will be in my top favorites for 2019!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me an early advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this book - didn’t want to put it down or go to sleep! I kind of guessed the ending shortly before it happened, but still such an awesome read!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well-written novel with a moral message about a mother and daughter-in-law who struggle to find common ground. I love the ending and how the matriarch's purpose in life was continued on. This is a great novel about forgiveness and finding common ground.

Oh wow. Put some time away for this book. It has all the ingredients for a terrific psychological thriller.

No spoilers from me. Book is great with lots of lies, deception, tragedy, and twists. Also, loved the unpredictable ending. Can't say enough great about this. Read it today!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

Thanks to Net Galley & St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This is one of those books that once you start reading you don’t want to put it down. The story is told from two points of view, Lucy and then Diana her mother in law, and of course they have a complicated relationship.
Lucy wants to be loved by Diana and be her friend, difficult when Diana is cold and distant. Diana’s relationships with her children Ollie and Nettie is also rather complicated.
When Diana is found dead in her home it looks like suicide, she has left a suicide note. Ollie, her son seems to have been the last person to see her alive, but was he? The police question all the family members, they all have a motive.
There are lots of rsurprises in the story as the pages turn themselves as the plot unravels. Super read.

This was a wonderfully crafted domestic suspense! I was captivated by this family and their relationships and misunderstandings, love and regret.

Told in the alternating viewpoints of Diana (mother in law) and Lucy (daughter in law) and switching between past and present, the author masterfully demonstrates just how easily words, assumptions and lack of true communication can be the downfall of a relationship.

This was a refreshing change from the usual trope. I could not put this book down, needing to see the story unravel!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a good read. Alternating between past and present and mother and daughter in law, we see how two women's are intertwined and affected by both their experience, assumptions and inability to communicate. I loved the way the mystery was woven and the growth of the relationship as seen from both character's perspective. A really page Turner, I read it in one afternoon.

Thank you to NetGalley for sharing this book with me. I was so lucky to discover Sally Hepworth's books one day in a book store. Since then, I have enjoyed every single one that I have read, and The Mother-in-Law may be her best yet! The family dynamics in this book were so intricate and interesting. I had a very difficult time figuring out Diana, the mother-in-law. She was never quite what I expected. There were so many great twists throughout this book. I think this is going right to my favorites shelf!

If you are looking for a book with a sinister plot and an evilly, wicked mother-in-law, this is not the book for you. This book is much more about family dynamics. It’s about things unsaid and things miscommunicated or misconstrued. Diane is not evil or wicked. She comes across quite hard hearted at times, but really does want the best for her children. With a completely different take on “the mother-in-law story” Hepworth keeps the reader completely engaged from start to finish. Diane is a complex character, one that is completely unlikable one moment and one that you feel sorry for the next. Did she really kill herself or is it murder? Told in two perspectives both in past and present, Hepworth does a remarkable job of weaving everything together and creates a very satisfying read.

I zipped through this book in two sittings, with an awkward space in the middle where I snapped at people who unreasonably expected me to do momwork instead of curling up on the couch to finish this book. This is one of those rare stories that actually deserves to be called 'unputdownable'.

"The Mother-in-Law" is twisty and suspenseful, and even more than that, it's clever and sophisticated. A lesser author would have given us a mother-in-law to hate, and that's where I thought this was headed at first. Not so fast!! Sally Hepworth is far too talented and brilliant for a shortcut like that. There are no flimsy, easily exposed villains in this book, and considering it's about a murdered mother-in-law that's a fantastic feat.

There is no black and white in this book. It's all shades of deliciously mysterious grey, and that's what makes this story so addictive. A fascinating storyline combined with sharp prose and clever insight makes this one of my favorite reads in 2018!

A bit of a mystery mixed with family drama, secrets, and a great twist. I love everything Sally Hepworth writes, and this was no exception. Her characters are nuanced and flawed and totally realistic.

A remarkable book which has everything- humor, tragedy, suspense, love,hate , jealously, friendship and so much more!
It begins with the strained relations of a young wife and her mother-in-law. This allows for some humorous in-law scenes.
Things then become much more serious with a sudden death. It looks like suicide, but could be murder. No one is above suspicion!
Meanwhile, the characters are learning not to judge each others' actions and not to harbor drudges or resentments.
This novel is very well told with enough suspense to keep the pages turning and it kept me guessing until the very end.
Excellent and so well written!

Great book!!! 4.5 stars!

I had read the family next door and really enjoyed it, but this one was even better. The story line hooked you from the beginning and I found it very hard to put the book down to get anything else done. It was a fun ride with 2 great main characters and I loved reading the different point of views of the same situations.

This was a definite page turner with a good mystery mixed in!

Thanks to netgalley.com for the ARC.