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The Other Wife
The wife is always the last to know... What if everything you believed was a lie? Your life...your marriage…your very existence.
What if the person lying to you is your husband, the man who claims to love you more than anything in the world?
Isolated in his remote Scottish ancestral home on the pretext that you are psychologically fragile and recovering from a breakdown, this home has become a prison. As the days slip by in a haze of confusion and a cocktail of drugs administered by a loyal housekeeper, you begin to piece together the fragments of your life and stumble on a terrifying secret.
What if you discover you weren't his first wife, and nor will you be the last? That he plans to replace you, to make you disappear - just like the first wife. Just how far would you go to save your life and prove your husband's a murderer?
The new gripping read, perfect for the fans of Louise Candlish and Adele Parks
What if the person lying to you is your husband, the man who claims to love you more than anything in the world?
Isolated in his remote Scottish ancestral home on the pretext that you are psychologically fragile and recovering from a breakdown, this home has become a prison. As the days slip by in a haze of confusion and a cocktail of drugs administered by a loyal housekeeper, you begin to piece together the fragments of your life and stumble on a terrifying secret.
What if you discover you weren't his first wife, and nor will you be the last? That he plans to replace you, to make you disappear - just like the first wife. Just how far would you go to save your life and prove your husband's a murderer?
The new gripping read, perfect for the fans of Louise Candlish and Adele Parks
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2024
1114 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Ramsay
20 books143 followersDanielle Ramsay is a proud Scot living in a small seaside town in the North-East of England. Always a storyteller, it was only after initially following an academic career lecturing in literature that she found her place in life and began to write creatively full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 18, 2024
This starts with a woman waking up in an all-white room, being called Mrs. Langdon. The woman talking to her, Mrs. Taylor, tells her she’s had a nervous breakdown at her house in London, so her husband, James Buchanan Langdon, brought her to their country home - the Dunstrafne Castle in Argyll, West Scotland. It turns out Mrs. Langdon has been there over a month, but she doesn’t remember anything, not even her husband.
Mrs. Taylor has to tell her everything over again every time she wakes up. Migraines leave Mrs. Langdon disoriented and unable to remember days at a time. She’s assured that this happens all the time and her memory always comes back, but it’s like Groundhog Day waking up in the same white room, always covered in scratches and bruises, always being forced to eat disgusting food, then always being forced take a lot of pills. She remembers random quotes, facts and things from her past, but nothing from the last two years as the wife of Mr. Langdon.
Then one day, she wakes up and remembers…not much, but she remembers waking up the time before. She remembers where she is, and that’s she’s being drugged. She remembers very little, but she knows that something is very wrong. Why doesn’t her husband share a room with her? Why is her door always locked? Why is she only fed bland, nasty food? Why does she have to take so many pills? Why is the only thing in her closet white dressing gowns?
The book answers these questions in time, and overall this was a good read. My only complaint is that before the book was even halfway through, I had figured everything out - I don’t know if it was easy, or if I was just lucky, but knowing what the end was going to bring was a bit of a bummer. If I hadn’t figured it out already, it would’ve been a great twist! (There were also a few more smaller twists in the end that I didn’t know were coming, but if I figure out the BIG one, it’s a bit of a letdown). This was a good story though, whether you figure out the twist or not. There were a lot of questions to get answered, and there was a lot of suspense to unpack. I’m giving this 3.5 stars that probably would have been rounded up to four, had I not seen the ending coming.
(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Danielle Ramsay and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on March 11, 2024.)
Mrs. Taylor has to tell her everything over again every time she wakes up. Migraines leave Mrs. Langdon disoriented and unable to remember days at a time. She’s assured that this happens all the time and her memory always comes back, but it’s like Groundhog Day waking up in the same white room, always covered in scratches and bruises, always being forced to eat disgusting food, then always being forced take a lot of pills. She remembers random quotes, facts and things from her past, but nothing from the last two years as the wife of Mr. Langdon.
Then one day, she wakes up and remembers…not much, but she remembers waking up the time before. She remembers where she is, and that’s she’s being drugged. She remembers very little, but she knows that something is very wrong. Why doesn’t her husband share a room with her? Why is her door always locked? Why is she only fed bland, nasty food? Why does she have to take so many pills? Why is the only thing in her closet white dressing gowns?
The book answers these questions in time, and overall this was a good read. My only complaint is that before the book was even halfway through, I had figured everything out - I don’t know if it was easy, or if I was just lucky, but knowing what the end was going to bring was a bit of a bummer. If I hadn’t figured it out already, it would’ve been a great twist! (There were also a few more smaller twists in the end that I didn’t know were coming, but if I figure out the BIG one, it’s a bit of a letdown). This was a good story though, whether you figure out the twist or not. There were a lot of questions to get answered, and there was a lot of suspense to unpack. I’m giving this 3.5 stars that probably would have been rounded up to four, had I not seen the ending coming.
(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Danielle Ramsay and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on March 11, 2024.)
April 5, 2024
This starts off as a slow burn . It takes a whike to see where tge story is gping . Ypu eake up in a locked room with a housekeeper you dont recognise in a castle in the wikderness of scotland. The man who says hes your husband means nothing to you and you font kniw anything. Occasionally snippets of the past pull at your thoughts.
As a reader i was compelled to read on as tge pace quicken. I did gueese tge twist cirrectky but found it a worthwhile read. The oace was a tad off and tge final reveal seemed to be a quick ending. I enjoyed this but the first sct sermed too long and although some of it was designed to reflect gge characters reality i found it quite repetitive and in places unrealistic.
This waz a cracking 4 star read that did end up hooking me in and compelled me to find put who are you teally. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
As a reader i was compelled to read on as tge pace quicken. I did gueese tge twist cirrectky but found it a worthwhile read. The oace was a tad off and tge final reveal seemed to be a quick ending. I enjoyed this but the first sct sermed too long and although some of it was designed to reflect gge characters reality i found it quite repetitive and in places unrealistic.
This waz a cracking 4 star read that did end up hooking me in and compelled me to find put who are you teally. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
August 5, 2024
This is such an under-rated book! I really enjoyed this one and loved the paranoia and fears that radiate from the pages. From the beginning, we are instantly transported to Mrs Langdon being disorientated and confused in a remote castle, having no memory of how she got there, how long she has been there and who her husband is. Ramsay really captures the fear that Mrs Langdon experiences and I found myself racing through the book to its dramatic conclusion.
It is evident that things are not what they seem at this castle. The protagonist is convinced she is being gaslighted by both her husband and housekeeper, knowing that the full truth is being not revealed. Yet, with such a foggy memory and inability to recall even the most basic of events, Mrs Langdon is trapped in a web of confusion and paranoia. The fact that she is taking such a colourful array of tablets so frequently, seems to sleep most of the time and is literally losing days whilst bedbound, there is an unmistakable horror brewing that you want Mrs Langdon to escape from. Furthermore, when the local police visit, I was literally screaming in disbelief that the authorities were not supportive of Mrs Langdon’s claims, convinced she is going to be murdered by her husband. She needs to remember exactly what got her here… and fast.
I loved how this story developed and with it, the tension did too. The book opens with a dramatic fire and then returns to a few days previous. Readers then get to witness the build up to this life-changing event and it is from this point does the writer really throw in the surprising revelations. Despite having theories about where the plot was headed, I was excited to see how events would pan out and whether I would be correct.
The story very much has Rebecca vibes running through it, particularly with the presence of the first Mrs Langdon haunting our protagonist’s every move. Indeed, the influential housekeeper, secretive husband and remote castle really gave off gothic vibes, juxtaposing with the stark, clinical white bedroom that our protagonist seems restricted to. Ramsay cleverly manipulates the reader as we are questioning the reality that Mrs Langdon experiences, sharing her extreme fear that she is soon going to be murdered by Mr Langdon.
A fast-paced thriller, I could not put this book down. I was so intrigued about the secrets hidden behind this lavish, sprawling estate and I really sympathised with the protagonist. On the other hand, nothing is what it seems and you find yourself questioning everything above and beyond, leaving to a dramatic conclusion that I relished in.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It is evident that things are not what they seem at this castle. The protagonist is convinced she is being gaslighted by both her husband and housekeeper, knowing that the full truth is being not revealed. Yet, with such a foggy memory and inability to recall even the most basic of events, Mrs Langdon is trapped in a web of confusion and paranoia. The fact that she is taking such a colourful array of tablets so frequently, seems to sleep most of the time and is literally losing days whilst bedbound, there is an unmistakable horror brewing that you want Mrs Langdon to escape from. Furthermore, when the local police visit, I was literally screaming in disbelief that the authorities were not supportive of Mrs Langdon’s claims, convinced she is going to be murdered by her husband. She needs to remember exactly what got her here… and fast.
I loved how this story developed and with it, the tension did too. The book opens with a dramatic fire and then returns to a few days previous. Readers then get to witness the build up to this life-changing event and it is from this point does the writer really throw in the surprising revelations. Despite having theories about where the plot was headed, I was excited to see how events would pan out and whether I would be correct.
The story very much has Rebecca vibes running through it, particularly with the presence of the first Mrs Langdon haunting our protagonist’s every move. Indeed, the influential housekeeper, secretive husband and remote castle really gave off gothic vibes, juxtaposing with the stark, clinical white bedroom that our protagonist seems restricted to. Ramsay cleverly manipulates the reader as we are questioning the reality that Mrs Langdon experiences, sharing her extreme fear that she is soon going to be murdered by Mr Langdon.
A fast-paced thriller, I could not put this book down. I was so intrigued about the secrets hidden behind this lavish, sprawling estate and I really sympathised with the protagonist. On the other hand, nothing is what it seems and you find yourself questioning everything above and beyond, leaving to a dramatic conclusion that I relished in.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2024
The title and the blurb are very misleading, so understand that going in. It's not to say you won't enjoy it, but it will not be what you are expecting. I figured out what was going on pretty early, because I read a lot and what else could it have been. That probably lessened my enjoyment and made things drag for me. It was exhausting living inside our main character's brain as she tended to go over the same thing ad nauseum. The setting of the story was very claustropobic, which added to the overall mystery. I think the treatment of the main character and being able to figure out the plot twists early on sort of ruined things for me. If you are one of those readers who can just plod along and spend your time enjoying the read rather than trying to figure stuff out, then I think you will enjoy this one more than I did.
April 15, 2024
The idea is interesting. Unfortunately the way it was written was not for me. I got bored reading it because the main character was going on and on with asking why she couldn’t remember her life. This story of this book could have been told in 3 pages. As us readers, we got it! It felt like the author was trying to embellish the drama by filling the pages of her book with something to write that was already written before. Plus I quickly guessed the real reason of the story so early on that made the book boring. Hence one star.
June 24, 2024
Oooh, this was a good one!
It’s one of those books that tricky to review without giving too much away. But imagine waking up in a strange room in a castle where nothing is familiar and your memory is scratchy at best … also everything is white, including your nightdress.
Creepy right? This was such an atmospheric, addictive psychological thriller. My first by this author, but defiantly not my last.
Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy. Out now.
It’s one of those books that tricky to review without giving too much away. But imagine waking up in a strange room in a castle where nothing is familiar and your memory is scratchy at best … also everything is white, including your nightdress.
Creepy right? This was such an atmospheric, addictive psychological thriller. My first by this author, but defiantly not my last.
Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy. Out now.
August 9, 2024
Good morning Goodreads Family, I gave the book 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ Honestly, this book wasn’t really the type of book I would read. I was thinking of not reading the book anymore by a little less than half into the book 📖 but as always I never like to quit anything. So, I kept on reading. I felt so sorry for Mrs Langdon. I was feeling her pain and confusion. I even pictured myself in her position if something like that would have happened to me. ( I wont say what it is and spoil what the book is about) but when you do read it you’ll see what I’m talking about. To think that what happened to her can definitely happen to anybody. That is why I didn’t stop reading the 📚 book. I probably will not read this book again but it left me understanding what Mrs Langdon went through and if anybody is going thru something like that my heart ❤️ goes out to them and their families…
March 7, 2024
White room, white clothes, whiteboard. An unnamed woman keeps waking up in an all white room with no trace of personal effects. She is fed a few spoonfuls of soggy eggs and given a cup full of pills. She doesn't know who or where she is and is covered in bruises. With shades of "Jane Eyre "and "Rebecca," this story has one of my least favorite themes which is women being gaslighted and held hostage. Yet, the first person stream of consciousness writing has a mesmerizing effect. I felt a great deal of empathy for this poor woman who had amnesia but felt strongly that she was in danger. In reality she is Mrs. Langdon, wife of a Scottish Laird named James and being taken care of by his housekeeper Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. Taylor feeds her the pills and will only tell her to consult the whiteboard on the wall which has her name and the details of where she is and why she is sleeping all the time (migraines). Mrs. Langdon tries to escape but she is too ill and thin and she is often locked in her room. How will she ever get away?
There is a big twist in the book but I thought it was very obvious what was going on. I appreciated the fast pace and sense of danger in the book but I also thought the real story didn't match the conversations and actions of the other people involved. Everyone was mean to this woman even her doctor who kept repeating that she was a friend of the husbands. I didn't like the ending and felt it was missing a big moment for the main character. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
There is a big twist in the book but I thought it was very obvious what was going on. I appreciated the fast pace and sense of danger in the book but I also thought the real story didn't match the conversations and actions of the other people involved. Everyone was mean to this woman even her doctor who kept repeating that she was a friend of the husbands. I didn't like the ending and felt it was missing a big moment for the main character. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
April 8, 2024
The Other Wife is a psychological thriller that's dark and really twisty. Even the blurb had me. I couldn't wait to sit down and dive into this book.
What do you do when you can't remember who you are or where you are? Waking in a place she doesn't recognise and a woman telling her who she is every day, while writing information on a whiteboard for her to be reminded constantly. She starts to explore her surroundings and doesn't like what she overhears. Why is she here, and how can she escape?
It is a great psychological thriller that is written in such a way that it really keeps you hanging on for the next chapter. The characters are fully rounded and make you want to know what will happen to them. With twists that are perfectly placed to add to the tension. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and sped through it way too fast for my liking!
Another success for Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood Books. I do love this publisher, and The Other Wife is another psychological thriller to be proud of. I definitely recommend this if you love a psychological thriller on the darker side.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.
What do you do when you can't remember who you are or where you are? Waking in a place she doesn't recognise and a woman telling her who she is every day, while writing information on a whiteboard for her to be reminded constantly. She starts to explore her surroundings and doesn't like what she overhears. Why is she here, and how can she escape?
It is a great psychological thriller that is written in such a way that it really keeps you hanging on for the next chapter. The characters are fully rounded and make you want to know what will happen to them. With twists that are perfectly placed to add to the tension. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and sped through it way too fast for my liking!
Another success for Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood Books. I do love this publisher, and The Other Wife is another psychological thriller to be proud of. I definitely recommend this if you love a psychological thriller on the darker side.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.
March 3, 2024
This is a good psychological thriller.
Waking up in a strange room, not being familiar with your surroundings, would be unsettling for anyone. When Mrs Langdon asks where she is a woman tells her she is in a castle in Scotland and is recovering from a migraine.
Mrs Taylor shows her the whiteboard in the room which has some questions and answers on it but Mrs Langdon can’t remember anything.
She takes her tablets but then the next thing she knows, three days have passed.
It’s hard to say much more without spoiling the story but as Mrs Langdon starts to explore the castle she doesn’t like what she finds or what she overhears.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Waking up in a strange room, not being familiar with your surroundings, would be unsettling for anyone. When Mrs Langdon asks where she is a woman tells her she is in a castle in Scotland and is recovering from a migraine.
Mrs Taylor shows her the whiteboard in the room which has some questions and answers on it but Mrs Langdon can’t remember anything.
She takes her tablets but then the next thing she knows, three days have passed.
It’s hard to say much more without spoiling the story but as Mrs Langdon starts to explore the castle she doesn’t like what she finds or what she overhears.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 14, 2024
The pain which the leading character is supposed to suffer from is what makes the story catchy and fascinating. I saw the development of the plot quite soon, however, the author has managed to amaze me, and I liked the story. The reader is blinded by obscurity. The cliffhanger was awesome and I was indeed on the edge of my seat. I read the whole book in no time. This book will sit well on the shelf of those who love the similar, though captivating mysteries.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
January 18, 2024
This book is like watching and living through someone else’s nightmare.
Mrs Langdon is that person living through a truly horrific nightmare. One she cannot seem to wake up from because every time she wakes up the nightmare, fear, the unknown begins all over again.
Locked inside her all white, spartan bedroom by a husband she doesn’t remember and his housekeeper, Mrs Taylor, who she doesn’t know, in a place she doesn’t know, every morning is terrifying for her.
With her breakfast comes a little white paper cup of pills. Her medication for her extremely debilitating migraines she has been suffering from.
These are what is causing her memory loss and confusion. That is why there is a whiteboard on the wall next to the bed telling her who she is, who her husband is, where she is and how long she has been there and why.
Her husband Laird James Buchanan Langdon has taken his wife to his ancestral home Dunstrafne Castle in the Scottish countryside in the hopes that some peace and quite, away from the hustle and bustle of London will help his wife to recover more quickly.
The whiteboard says she has been at the castle for 46 days, but can a migraine really wipe your memory of that many days? How many more days or weeks are missing from her memory?
Why doesn’t she have any memories at all? Is it something to do with the pills she is being given? But why? Why would her husband and housekeeper what to keep her drugged in her bedroom?
As doubts begin to crowed Mrs Langdon’s mind she starts to suspect her husband of wanting to kill her. To rid himself of her, just like he did his first wife.
But when you are imprisoned in a remote castle with all doors and windows locked, how will she escape the fate of the first wife?
Although I guessed the plot twist really early on I still really enjoyed reading the book.
It was like being inside of Mrs Langdon’s mind as we are privy to what she is thinking and feeling and those feelings are a living, breathing nightmare.
The book is dark and hauntingly broody with a razor sharp atmosphere that sucks you in and keeps you glued to the page.
I will definitely be reading Danielle Ramsay’s next book!
Mrs Langdon is that person living through a truly horrific nightmare. One she cannot seem to wake up from because every time she wakes up the nightmare, fear, the unknown begins all over again.
Locked inside her all white, spartan bedroom by a husband she doesn’t remember and his housekeeper, Mrs Taylor, who she doesn’t know, in a place she doesn’t know, every morning is terrifying for her.
With her breakfast comes a little white paper cup of pills. Her medication for her extremely debilitating migraines she has been suffering from.
These are what is causing her memory loss and confusion. That is why there is a whiteboard on the wall next to the bed telling her who she is, who her husband is, where she is and how long she has been there and why.
Her husband Laird James Buchanan Langdon has taken his wife to his ancestral home Dunstrafne Castle in the Scottish countryside in the hopes that some peace and quite, away from the hustle and bustle of London will help his wife to recover more quickly.
The whiteboard says she has been at the castle for 46 days, but can a migraine really wipe your memory of that many days? How many more days or weeks are missing from her memory?
Why doesn’t she have any memories at all? Is it something to do with the pills she is being given? But why? Why would her husband and housekeeper what to keep her drugged in her bedroom?
As doubts begin to crowed Mrs Langdon’s mind she starts to suspect her husband of wanting to kill her. To rid himself of her, just like he did his first wife.
But when you are imprisoned in a remote castle with all doors and windows locked, how will she escape the fate of the first wife?
Although I guessed the plot twist really early on I still really enjoyed reading the book.
It was like being inside of Mrs Langdon’s mind as we are privy to what she is thinking and feeling and those feelings are a living, breathing nightmare.
The book is dark and hauntingly broody with a razor sharp atmosphere that sucks you in and keeps you glued to the page.
I will definitely be reading Danielle Ramsay’s next book!
August 2, 2024
It was a good read! It kind of felt like the movie 50 first dates!
November 10, 2024
One of my favorite tropes for a book whether it be a romance or a thriller is the amnesia trope. The trope where the main character has blocked out their past and for some reason can't remember and now they have to piece everything together to remember. In The Other Wife, we have our main female character waking up in a room that she doesn't remember as it doesn't feel like she and the staff are calling her Mrs. Langdon. The thing is she can't remember this life and why she is here as things aren't adding up and soon she will find herself losing days. What happened to her and why can't she remember anything? One night, Mrs Langdon wanders around the house and finds herself in the forbidden West Wing - the room, in particular, looks like a bedroom preserved. Hanging up on the wall is a portrait of someone named Isabella Langdon. Mrs. Langdon gets it in her mind, that this must have been her husband's first wife and so she is "the other wife". When the current Mrs. Langdon finds Isabella's diary and a sonogram, she starts to read it and soon finds herself engrossed in the world of "the first wife". What happened to her did her current husband James kill his first wife and will she be next? Was she the one that Isabella thought that her husband was cheating on her with? Why can't the current Mrs. Langdon remember anything at all? This was a good thriller, but I have to say personally I was a little disappointed as found the reason for the amnesia and lost memories was glossed over and the book had an almost open-ended feeling and it left me with a couple of unanswered questions. The Other Wife was a good thriller, but I would suggest maybe KU'ing or borrowing from the library rather than purchasing.
February 21, 2024
What if the person lying to you is your husband, the man who claims to love you more than anything in the world?
Isolated in bis remote Scottish ancestral home on the pretext that you are psychologically fragile and recovering from a breakdown, this home has become a prison. As the days slip by in a haze of confusion and a cocktail of drugs administered by a local housekeeper, you begin to piece together the fragments of your life and stumble on a terrifying secret. What if you discover you weren't his first wife, nor will you be his last? That he plans to replace you, to make you disappear - just like his first wife. Just how far would you go to save your life and prove your husband's a murderer?
Mrs Langdon is living her life in a horrendous nightmare. She's locked in her bedroom by her husband and housekeeper. Mrs Langdon is told she suffers from migraines and has also had a breakdown. The housekeeper gives her a daily handful of pills, allegedly to keep the migraines away. But she knows she has lived in the remote ancestral home for over forty days, as there is a white board with the all details of her stay on it in her room. The pace is on the slow side in this well-written, dark, and twisted read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Published 11th March
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #DanielleRamsay for my ARC of #TheOtherWife in exchange for an honest review.
Isolated in bis remote Scottish ancestral home on the pretext that you are psychologically fragile and recovering from a breakdown, this home has become a prison. As the days slip by in a haze of confusion and a cocktail of drugs administered by a local housekeeper, you begin to piece together the fragments of your life and stumble on a terrifying secret. What if you discover you weren't his first wife, nor will you be his last? That he plans to replace you, to make you disappear - just like his first wife. Just how far would you go to save your life and prove your husband's a murderer?
Mrs Langdon is living her life in a horrendous nightmare. She's locked in her bedroom by her husband and housekeeper. Mrs Langdon is told she suffers from migraines and has also had a breakdown. The housekeeper gives her a daily handful of pills, allegedly to keep the migraines away. But she knows she has lived in the remote ancestral home for over forty days, as there is a white board with the all details of her stay on it in her room. The pace is on the slow side in this well-written, dark, and twisted read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Published 11th March
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #DanielleRamsay for my ARC of #TheOtherWife in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2024
The Other Wife by Danielle Ramsay
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
The wife is always the last to know... What if everything you believed was a lie? Your life...your marriage…your very existence.
What if the person lying to you is your husband, the man who claims to love you more than anything in the world?
Isolated in his remote Scottish ancestral home on the pretext that you are psychologically fragile and recovering from a breakdown, this home has become a prison. As the days slip by in a haze of confusion and a cocktail of drugs administered by a loyal housekeeper, you begin to piece together the fragments of your life and stumble on a terrifying secret.
What if you discover you weren't his first wife, and nor will you be the last? That he plans to replace you, to make you disappear - just like the first wife. Just how far would you go to save your life and prove your husband's a murderer?
My Opinion
I couldn't tell you what it was about this book but it really appealed to me. I started reading this book when I really didn't have the time as it just jumped out at me as a a book I needed to read ASAP. This is such an enjoyable read and there are some great twists to keep you guessing. It is difficult to say much without giving away any spoilers, but this thriller is definitely worth reading.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
The wife is always the last to know... What if everything you believed was a lie? Your life...your marriage…your very existence.
What if the person lying to you is your husband, the man who claims to love you more than anything in the world?
Isolated in his remote Scottish ancestral home on the pretext that you are psychologically fragile and recovering from a breakdown, this home has become a prison. As the days slip by in a haze of confusion and a cocktail of drugs administered by a loyal housekeeper, you begin to piece together the fragments of your life and stumble on a terrifying secret.
What if you discover you weren't his first wife, and nor will you be the last? That he plans to replace you, to make you disappear - just like the first wife. Just how far would you go to save your life and prove your husband's a murderer?
My Opinion
I couldn't tell you what it was about this book but it really appealed to me. I started reading this book when I really didn't have the time as it just jumped out at me as a a book I needed to read ASAP. This is such an enjoyable read and there are some great twists to keep you guessing. It is difficult to say much without giving away any spoilers, but this thriller is definitely worth reading.
Rating 4/5
March 12, 2024
The book begins with the protagonist not remembering where and why she is in her current state. As the story moves forward, she realises that she truly has no memory of her past. She struggles to piece together the bits of information fed to her by her caretaker, Mrs Taylor. And it is through Mrs Taylor that she realises that she doesn’t even remember her first name, only that she is Mrs Langdon. She tries to make sense of every information but it only creates doubts in her mind.
The story’s setting in a Scottish castle on a remote island gives it an eerie vibe that is enough to hold the reader’s attention. Add to that the protagonist’s memory loss and confusion, and you have the hook needed to be whisked away with the story.
I thought of making more notes but honestly, as I kept reading I simply didn’t want to stop. The entire narrative is mysterious with a gripping storyline. As a reader, you are thrown into a situation where you don’t know what to expect, and you don’t know whom to trust – just like Mrs Langdon.
The writing is brilliant! The fantastic revelation bit by bit and the mental state of Mrs Langdon creates this mysterious aura and the reader is willingly swept into the story.
I can hardly stop telling you what a fantastic read this has been. I have not, in the recent time, read such a thrilling narrative by anyone. It is simply superb! If you love thrillers, The Other Wife should be on your TBR.
The story’s setting in a Scottish castle on a remote island gives it an eerie vibe that is enough to hold the reader’s attention. Add to that the protagonist’s memory loss and confusion, and you have the hook needed to be whisked away with the story.
I thought of making more notes but honestly, as I kept reading I simply didn’t want to stop. The entire narrative is mysterious with a gripping storyline. As a reader, you are thrown into a situation where you don’t know what to expect, and you don’t know whom to trust – just like Mrs Langdon.
The writing is brilliant! The fantastic revelation bit by bit and the mental state of Mrs Langdon creates this mysterious aura and the reader is willingly swept into the story.
I can hardly stop telling you what a fantastic read this has been. I have not, in the recent time, read such a thrilling narrative by anyone. It is simply superb! If you love thrillers, The Other Wife should be on your TBR.
March 25, 2024
Dunstrafne Castle - Scotland
Laird James Buchanan Langdon was once married to a woman named Isabelle who disappeared without a trace. Now, he is married to another woman and he plans to make her disappear as well.
She wakes feeling groggy and cannot remember where she is. A woman named Mrs. Taylor, the housekeeper, watches over her and calls her Mrs. Langdon. Mrs. Taylor tells her that she suffers from migraines and is taking a cocktail of drugs for her pain. She does not want to take the medicine because she wants to know what is going on but Mrs. Taylor always insists. She finds the she is covered in bruises and the food she is forced to eat is disgusting. Each time she wakes, Mrs. Taylor is there ready to repeat the food and drugs. When she asks the housekeeper questions, she points to a whiteboard that answers questions she has posed before.
Oh, dear. This book was so disturbing. Seeing the perceived mistreatment of this woman was irritating as it was repeated over and over. It made me angry and I kept asking myself why I was pushing myself to finish it. I think it’s because I gave a book of this author just one star before. I felt that if I did a DNF, that would be unfair so I pushed through to the end. As it is, again I say disturbing is the only word I can say about this. No. Not for me.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Laird James Buchanan Langdon was once married to a woman named Isabelle who disappeared without a trace. Now, he is married to another woman and he plans to make her disappear as well.
She wakes feeling groggy and cannot remember where she is. A woman named Mrs. Taylor, the housekeeper, watches over her and calls her Mrs. Langdon. Mrs. Taylor tells her that she suffers from migraines and is taking a cocktail of drugs for her pain. She does not want to take the medicine because she wants to know what is going on but Mrs. Taylor always insists. She finds the she is covered in bruises and the food she is forced to eat is disgusting. Each time she wakes, Mrs. Taylor is there ready to repeat the food and drugs. When she asks the housekeeper questions, she points to a whiteboard that answers questions she has posed before.
Oh, dear. This book was so disturbing. Seeing the perceived mistreatment of this woman was irritating as it was repeated over and over. It made me angry and I kept asking myself why I was pushing myself to finish it. I think it’s because I gave a book of this author just one star before. I felt that if I did a DNF, that would be unfair so I pushed through to the end. As it is, again I say disturbing is the only word I can say about this. No. Not for me.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 23, 2024
A woman wakes, confused and disorientated. She doesn't now her name or recognise her surroundings. She is cared for by a housekeeper but has no mempory of her husband or home or even the last few years of her life. She believes she is being kept prisoner and finds evidence that her husband's first wife may have been murdered...
The Other Wife is an intense and uncomfortable psychological thriller.
The opening chapter had me intrigued but was difficult to comprehend. The timeline then goes back 5 days to show the events immediately before the crisis. Again, there was a lot of confusion due to the narrator's own mental state.
Initially I didn't like this book. The woman's overwhelming fear and confusion was quite unpleasant. The big twist was easy to guess but I couldn't put the book down and liked it much more once I'd finished it and could see the concept as a whole.
The writing style is vivid and I was utterly absorbed in the lives of the characters. It is written in the first person from a perspective that is very unreliable. There are strong echoes of 'mad wife' tropes from Rebecca and Jane Eyre but the book is very modern.
The Other Wife is vividly written but often uncomfortable, powerfully emotional but almost overwhelmingly so.
The Other Wife is an intense and uncomfortable psychological thriller.
The opening chapter had me intrigued but was difficult to comprehend. The timeline then goes back 5 days to show the events immediately before the crisis. Again, there was a lot of confusion due to the narrator's own mental state.
Initially I didn't like this book. The woman's overwhelming fear and confusion was quite unpleasant. The big twist was easy to guess but I couldn't put the book down and liked it much more once I'd finished it and could see the concept as a whole.
The writing style is vivid and I was utterly absorbed in the lives of the characters. It is written in the first person from a perspective that is very unreliable. There are strong echoes of 'mad wife' tropes from Rebecca and Jane Eyre but the book is very modern.
The Other Wife is vividly written but often uncomfortable, powerfully emotional but almost overwhelmingly so.
January 27, 2024
A woman wakes up and finds herself in a strange room in what looks like a castle. She sees a man with two dogs on the beach below who seems faintly recognisable. She knows she is his second wife, his other wife died and there are things around she knows belonged to the other wife. The housekeeper, who refers to her as Mrs Langdon, tells her she suffers from migraines and that for her not to remember things is quite normal and that she had a mental breakdown a while back. There are no mirrors and she feels as if she doesn't recognise herself- her hair is much shorter as she feels it and she is wary of taking the pills the housekeeper wants her to have.
This book begins as waking into a nightmare and is rather dark and twisty. It's a very descriptive read as much is about Mrs Langdon’s feelings and thoughts and that which is around her. I found myself racing through this, it's one of those reads that is quite unsettling in a way, as the reader doesn't know how she got there in the first place. A very different, chilling dark-ish read that had me enthralled.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog
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This book begins as waking into a nightmare and is rather dark and twisty. It's a very descriptive read as much is about Mrs Langdon’s feelings and thoughts and that which is around her. I found myself racing through this, it's one of those reads that is quite unsettling in a way, as the reader doesn't know how she got there in the first place. A very different, chilling dark-ish read that had me enthralled.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog
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March 7, 2024
The writing in this book is utterly claustrophobic, and you can really feel the same sense of being trapped as the main character, both within the house and within her own mind. The entirety of the book mostly takes place in the same building, which added an extra layer of dread due to the proximity of all of the characters and the lack of control the main character has over the situation. The atmosphere of this book was exceptionally well-crafted.
Like some other reviewers, I guessed a certain plot point quite early on, but it did not really detract from my enjoyment of the book. Rather it painted the main character’s fears and struggles in a different, but no less interesting, light. I found the ending of the book a little underwhelming, though I thought that it was done well for the type of ending that the author wanted. Overall, fans of psychological thriller books that happen mostly within one’s own mind will find this a fast and fun read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.
3/5 When you can’t trust your own thoughts, who can you trust?
Like some other reviewers, I guessed a certain plot point quite early on, but it did not really detract from my enjoyment of the book. Rather it painted the main character’s fears and struggles in a different, but no less interesting, light. I found the ending of the book a little underwhelming, though I thought that it was done well for the type of ending that the author wanted. Overall, fans of psychological thriller books that happen mostly within one’s own mind will find this a fast and fun read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.
3/5 When you can’t trust your own thoughts, who can you trust?
September 13, 2024
Meh (Spoiler alert)
One - kudos to the author for having published this work. Never want to take away from hard work and dedication of creating a novel. However, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I forgot I had the book in my library When i first tried to.read it... so it's taken me several.months to actually finish it. I will say I like how she created a sense of urgency in some scenes.
Spoiler
It's just way too repetitive. I knew pretty immediately that she was the "other wife" just based on similar books in the genre and how it was laid out. Every chapter or scene had 80% repeat of the last with an added piece of action to slooowly move the story forward. Probably could've been done in five chapters. I honestly felt more of an emotional pull and anger at the portraits being ruined than anything else in the book. Literally my emotional tie was to some paintings vs the characters.
But again - she's best selling AND published author so she's doing something right. She creates perceived urgency well with the main character but then kind of ruins it by dragging out the chapter with repetitions. I'll try one of her other works and see how I feel.
One - kudos to the author for having published this work. Never want to take away from hard work and dedication of creating a novel. However, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I forgot I had the book in my library When i first tried to.read it... so it's taken me several.months to actually finish it. I will say I like how she created a sense of urgency in some scenes.
Spoiler
It's just way too repetitive. I knew pretty immediately that she was the "other wife" just based on similar books in the genre and how it was laid out. Every chapter or scene had 80% repeat of the last with an added piece of action to slooowly move the story forward. Probably could've been done in five chapters. I honestly felt more of an emotional pull and anger at the portraits being ruined than anything else in the book. Literally my emotional tie was to some paintings vs the characters.
But again - she's best selling AND published author so she's doing something right. She creates perceived urgency well with the main character but then kind of ruins it by dragging out the chapter with repetitions. I'll try one of her other works and see how I feel.
November 24, 2024
3.5 Stars from me
This book has a myriad of tricks up its sleeve and the overall story is brilliant and darkly intoxicating.
I found it a little reminiscent of Rebecca, but not strongly so, more of a vague scent of Rebecca hung loosely in the air.
The bulk of the story is in a remote castle, focused around Mrs Langdon who is suffering amnesia and finds herself in a pure white room, wearing a white robe and with no idea how or why she is there. Her day to day life is not spent with her husband but with a lady who takes her through a series of 'remembering' sessions and it really isn't clear what her motives are and whether she even likes Mrs Langdon.
As much as I loved the intrigue and psychological element of this book, I found some of the day to day 'remembering' to be too repetitive - albeit I understand that is what it was intending to get across but even so it made the mid section drag, for me.
Overall this was a clever story with lots of mystery and intrigue and I was definitely compelled to keep reading to find out what on earth had happened.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.
This book has a myriad of tricks up its sleeve and the overall story is brilliant and darkly intoxicating.
I found it a little reminiscent of Rebecca, but not strongly so, more of a vague scent of Rebecca hung loosely in the air.
The bulk of the story is in a remote castle, focused around Mrs Langdon who is suffering amnesia and finds herself in a pure white room, wearing a white robe and with no idea how or why she is there. Her day to day life is not spent with her husband but with a lady who takes her through a series of 'remembering' sessions and it really isn't clear what her motives are and whether she even likes Mrs Langdon.
As much as I loved the intrigue and psychological element of this book, I found some of the day to day 'remembering' to be too repetitive - albeit I understand that is what it was intending to get across but even so it made the mid section drag, for me.
Overall this was a clever story with lots of mystery and intrigue and I was definitely compelled to keep reading to find out what on earth had happened.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.
March 14, 2025
This Psychological Thriller REALLY WAS AWESOME!!
I’ve read many psychological thrillers - but this one really kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. Lord James Langston was helping his wife recover from a horrific accident at the family castle. She required serious medical attention for many months. However, Mrs, Langston, as she wished to be called, couldn’t remember even being married to this man. Her memory was definitely not back s she had hoped. She couldn’t even remember the day or the month or her husband’s name without help. She assumed that he had been married before to Isabella Langston. She even found a few diary pages that had been written, and wondered what happened to the first wife. Did he kill the first wife to get rid of her, before marrying her? Was he trying to kill her too? Why wouldn’t anyone believe her? What could she do to stay alive? The plot was definitely genius and the character development was definitely on point. You don’t want to miss out on reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from this author.
I’ve read many psychological thrillers - but this one really kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. Lord James Langston was helping his wife recover from a horrific accident at the family castle. She required serious medical attention for many months. However, Mrs, Langston, as she wished to be called, couldn’t remember even being married to this man. Her memory was definitely not back s she had hoped. She couldn’t even remember the day or the month or her husband’s name without help. She assumed that he had been married before to Isabella Langston. She even found a few diary pages that had been written, and wondered what happened to the first wife. Did he kill the first wife to get rid of her, before marrying her? Was he trying to kill her too? Why wouldn’t anyone believe her? What could she do to stay alive? The plot was definitely genius and the character development was definitely on point. You don’t want to miss out on reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from this author.
April 11, 2024
This book was both creepy and claustrophobic. 90% of the plot takes place in an old Scottish castle and you have no idea what year it’s supposed to be.
A woman wakes up in a locked white room with no memories, a housekeeper feeding her eyes and dressing her in white, and an elusive husband. She starts to believe that the husband and housekeeper got rid of the woman whose portraits hang throughout the house - and are planning to do the same to her shortly.
Being inside Mrs Langdon’s mind was the claustrophobic part. Because she knows nothing, you find yourself going over the same information over and over again and not really furthering the plot.
Once the twist was revealed, I was disappointed in some of the language used by the husband earlier in the book. I understand it was to keep the mystery but it didn’t warm me to his character.
Also, the child at the end came out of nowhere and was unnecessary for the plot in my opinion. Though nice to know there was some light in this otherwise very dark set of circumstances.
A woman wakes up in a locked white room with no memories, a housekeeper feeding her eyes and dressing her in white, and an elusive husband. She starts to believe that the husband and housekeeper got rid of the woman whose portraits hang throughout the house - and are planning to do the same to her shortly.
Being inside Mrs Langdon’s mind was the claustrophobic part. Because she knows nothing, you find yourself going over the same information over and over again and not really furthering the plot.
Once the twist was revealed, I was disappointed in some of the language used by the husband earlier in the book. I understand it was to keep the mystery but it didn’t warm me to his character.
Also, the child at the end came out of nowhere and was unnecessary for the plot in my opinion. Though nice to know there was some light in this otherwise very dark set of circumstances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2025
I can't imagine why people have been writing good reviews about this book. I feel I'm being more than generous in giving two stars, and that is only because I had managed (with effort) to read it from beginning to end. I had thought of abandoning it more than once before getting to the end.
It was not a good idea to have the narrator of the whole book, being brain damaged, which didn't help. The writing was both chaotic and repetitive. I guessed, after only a few pages in, who she was, so there were few, if any, surprises to come. I groaned aloud when, every time people spoke to her, they inevitably finished their sentences with "...remember?" when it was obvious to all that the poor woman wasn't going to.
The husband wasn't much help being obviously unintelligent, with little or no grasp of what was going on with his wife, and made some very poor choices as a result.
The book did, however, wind down to a reasonable finale, which saw the narrator in a better situation, which is the main reason why I gave it two stars instead of one.
It was not a good idea to have the narrator of the whole book, being brain damaged, which didn't help. The writing was both chaotic and repetitive. I guessed, after only a few pages in, who she was, so there were few, if any, surprises to come. I groaned aloud when, every time people spoke to her, they inevitably finished their sentences with "...remember?" when it was obvious to all that the poor woman wasn't going to.
The husband wasn't much help being obviously unintelligent, with little or no grasp of what was going on with his wife, and made some very poor choices as a result.
The book did, however, wind down to a reasonable finale, which saw the narrator in a better situation, which is the main reason why I gave it two stars instead of one.
January 19, 2024
This story is seriously dark and twisty! Imagine waking up in a remote Scottish castle with precisely zero in the form of episodic memory - your very name eludes you....A woman proclaiming to be your housekeeper greets you with an unappetising breakfast and a handful of pills - allegedly to treat your migraines. You discover you are married and have spend 40+ days recuperating - though from what, you have no idea. You feel you are a prisoner in the castle but when your room is left unlocked, you are unable to stop yourself exploring - only to find a secret room that reveals your husband has a previous wife that mysteriously disappeared.....
This book was slower in pace than my preferred read, but honestly I was too intrigued to put it down! If dark, twisty and somewhat dystopian are your bag this is 100% the read for you!
My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.
This book was slower in pace than my preferred read, but honestly I was too intrigued to put it down! If dark, twisty and somewhat dystopian are your bag this is 100% the read for you!
My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.
February 25, 2024
A wife wakes up confused and unsure if she should trust her husband or not, a husband she can’t remember. When she stumbles across a terrifying secret, she wasn’t the first wife and won’t be the last, will she be able to remember for long enough to work out what exactly is going on and how she can fix it before it becomes too late?
This was an interesting premise, although I have read a few similar plots to this one. The story is dark, creepy and intriguing. The main character, although well written, did irritate me at times and it all seemed a bit over the top but this did help to build the overall suspense. I guessed the twist very early on and found it fairly repetitive in places. Although the book did not completely enthral me, it was a quick read and I can definitely appreciate what the author was trying to achieve. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
This was an interesting premise, although I have read a few similar plots to this one. The story is dark, creepy and intriguing. The main character, although well written, did irritate me at times and it all seemed a bit over the top but this did help to build the overall suspense. I guessed the twist very early on and found it fairly repetitive in places. Although the book did not completely enthral me, it was a quick read and I can definitely appreciate what the author was trying to achieve. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
March 4, 2024
Sinister, chilling and utterly gripping!
Mrs Langdon is locked away in her sparse bedroom in a remote Scottish castle, drugged and alone, except for the housekeeper.
Every day, Mrs Langdon wakes up remembering nothing and the housekeeper, Mrs Taylor, tells her who she is and why she is there, updating the white board in her bedroom, so she can be reminded. Mrs Langdon knows that the only way she can get her life back is to escape the drug hazed, beautiful prison and she then discovers portraits of her husband's beautiful first wife. Fuelled by jealousy and frightened for her life, she is determined to break free.
I really enjoyed this book - great writing style, strong character development and a twisty plot = ticks all the boxes for me! It reminded me of the movie "50 First Dates", but with a sinister vibe.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Mrs Langdon is locked away in her sparse bedroom in a remote Scottish castle, drugged and alone, except for the housekeeper.
Every day, Mrs Langdon wakes up remembering nothing and the housekeeper, Mrs Taylor, tells her who she is and why she is there, updating the white board in her bedroom, so she can be reminded. Mrs Langdon knows that the only way she can get her life back is to escape the drug hazed, beautiful prison and she then discovers portraits of her husband's beautiful first wife. Fuelled by jealousy and frightened for her life, she is determined to break free.
I really enjoyed this book - great writing style, strong character development and a twisty plot = ticks all the boxes for me! It reminded me of the movie "50 First Dates", but with a sinister vibe.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Danielle Ramsay and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.
February 21, 2024
My thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood for allowing me to review this arc. I won't reiterate the plot because the description is accurate but I will share some thoughts.
The story had a lot of promise but fell very flat. The majority of the story was the self narration of the "wife" in the castle, thinking she was be drugged her husband had another wife , he was holding her prisoner , trying to kill her, and being starved. Aside from Mrs Taylor there was not much other character interaction.
My other issues are things I've seen before. Another wife , Jane Eyre, creepy housekeeper discussing first "wife", Rebecca, making the wife think she did certain things, Gaslight. I had so money questions. But that ending? Really? I saw that coming about the wife's identity but that reason? Bit of a letdown. Can't recommend.
The story had a lot of promise but fell very flat. The majority of the story was the self narration of the "wife" in the castle, thinking she was be drugged her husband had another wife , he was holding her prisoner , trying to kill her, and being starved. Aside from Mrs Taylor there was not much other character interaction.
My other issues are things I've seen before. Another wife , Jane Eyre, creepy housekeeper discussing first "wife", Rebecca, making the wife think she did certain things, Gaslight. I had so money questions. But that ending? Really? I saw that coming about the wife's identity but that reason? Bit of a letdown. Can't recommend.
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