The Wife Inside

by Winter K. Willis

To Anna, Lynda Adams's life is perfect.

Ryan is Lynda’s perfect, loving husband who helps her run her multi-million-dollar empire. They live together in a perfect Seattle mansion on the edge of Lake Washington. Lynda is beloved in the fashion industry and has remained controversy-free in the public eye. She has everything. At least, that’s what Anna sees when she moves in to work for Lynda as her personal trainer.

It doesn’t take long for Anna to realize that “perfect” isn’t what it seems. She is quickly caught up in the psychological games, secrets and lies that Lynda and Ryan keep.

Just when Anna thinks things have improved, she’s hit with a shocking revelation during one of the twists of this gripping, psychological thriller. The aftermath of which will change her life forever.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2023

About the author

Winter K. Willis is a pseudonym for our two-person writing team. We like to think of it as our band name.

Reviews

[BrownBookNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a domestic thriller that had me at the edge of my seat. I figured out early on that something wasn’t right with Lynda but I just couldn’t out what exactly. Anna was really there to help Lynda and was building a friendship with her. I did not see the twist coming. I was shocked. I wish we would have got a POV from the husband. And I would have loved an epilogue given us insight to Anna & Lynda’s relationship.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just wasn’t much of a thriller? For 85% of the book it was just about a fitness influencer helping a rich woman loose weight. And while there were supposed to be some “suspenseful” moments in there, they just seemed so minor,or never amounted to anything to be that interested in. Like with the stalker- an Instagram dm wasn’t that major ,but was made to be a big deal and then dropped and brought up a few more times. and then we find out almost nothing about it till we hear he’s dead at the bottom of the lake. then the last 10% ,with the “climax” being that Anna is Lynda’s daughter, Lynda’s part of some type of mafia situation, and lynda and her hitman buddy kill the husband and stalker….? Nothing was ever mentioned about her being adopted or Lynda giving up a baby(other than a toothbrush going missing at the beginning and Lynda saying she wants kids )so it came out of no where and seemed silly. The mafia thing was also out of left field and was just basically dropped immediately.The end basically answered nothing. I keep seeing people say in the reviews something seemed “off” with Lynda and it did- but not that she was lying about being a mafia member and murderer and birth mother(because she was written like a slightly weird agoraphobic woman with mild depression and a cheating husband) I really wish I would have just DNF this book but I thought it might get better at the end 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE WIFE INSIDE BY WINTER K. WILLIS.
Right off the bat in chapter one I knew I was going to love one of the female main characters Anna.
I found this book highly enjoyable and let me tell you I did NOT see that coming at all. Brilliant book.
I love Twists that you don't see coming.

[Jailai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of an 3.5 than a 3

The buildup on this book was rather crazy. 😂 Ana was so lost I can say and well Lynda seemed kind of sneaky to me.. not sure why but she gave off that vibe

Ryan my boy … a true POS 😭😭

Who was the stalker?? I wish we could have figured this one out seriously omgggg

Overall a good book with a slow build up

[Chrys Minter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

I came across this book in my Facebook feed. Very intense thriller. Oh man... If you read this hold on to your seats. Very good Winter K. Willis.

[Desiree Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t get past the font, made it to the second page and shelved it.

[Elizabeth Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Wife Inside" by Winter K. Willis is a psychological thriller that grabs hold of readers from the very first page, immersing them in a tale rife with tension, suspicion, and intrigue. From the outset, Willis sets the stage for an unsettling journey, leaving readers with a sense of unease as they are drawn deeper into the story's enigmatic web.

One of the book's most compelling aspects is its ability to keep readers guessing. From the outset, there's a pervasive sense that something is amiss, but Willis cleverly obscures the truth, leaving readers to sift through a maze of clues and red herrings. This uncertainty serves to heighten the suspense, compelling readers to eagerly turn the pages in search of answers.

As the story unfolds, Willis skillfully introduces twists and turns that keep readers on their toes. Some revelations may seem plausible, prompting speculation from astute readers, while others come completely out of left field, leaving readers stunned by their unpredictability. This balance between the expected and the unexpected adds depth to the narrative, ensuring that readers are kept guessing until the very end.

Ultimately, "The Wife Inside" is a gripping read that delivers on its promise of suspense and mystery. Willis's adept storytelling and keen sense of pacing make for a compelling narrative that is sure to captivate readers from start to finish. Whether you're a fan of psychological thrillers or simply enjoy a good mystery, "The Wife Inside" is a book that is well worth picking up.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynda Adam is a business woman that’s beloved in the fashion industry. She seems to have it all: a successful salon business inherited from her father, a handsome husband and a mansion on the edge of Lake Washington. Lynda had become like a recluse, not even going to work, and has gained weight. She decides to reach out to Anna, a trainer. Lynda wants Anna to move into her house to be her personal trainer. After finding her fiancé in bed with another woman, Anna agrees to take the job. Anna puts Lynda through hard workouts and a diet to eat healthier. Anna and Lynda become friends, even defending Lynda to snobby women. Anna sees Lynda’s husband Ryan with another woman. Ryan has been cheating constantly on Lynda who knows about it. Apparently a written agreement was made that after 8 years of marriage Ryan would be entitled to half of Lynda’s business. One day while Lynda is away on business for the day, Ryan who’s supposed to be away on business too, hits on Anna who rejects him. Drunk Ryan grabs her wrist and Anna hits him in the nose. Anna leaves and calls Lynda lying to her that her aunt is sick and won’t be back. Lynda senses something especially after coming back and noticing Ryan’s black eye and is lying. Lynda asks Anna to come back to the house and promises Ryan won’t be there, that he’s away on business for months. Anna agrees. During the stay, Anna senses something off with Lynda. One night when Lynda is passed out drunk she looks through her office but finds nothing then goes into the next room where she finds baby clothes. She also looks through Lynda’s phone where she finds a message sent to Anna’s current boyfriend, Dimitri. Anna confronts Lynda.

The twists
Dimitri was hired by Lynda to follow Anna to make sure she’s a good person. Why? Because Anna is Lynda’s biological daughter and wants to leave everything to her. Dimitri is a hit man. In a hidden room in the basement Ryan is tied and gagged in a chair. Dimitri ends up suffocating Ryan with a zip tie with Lynda present. In the end, after Anna leaves shocked and upset, Anna eventually goes back to the house to get to know Lynda better. As for Dimitri , she’s refused to answer his texts and needs more time.

I enjoyed this book especially the twists. I was happy to see Lynda find her strength, get back on top and find her confidence. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Monica Mil-Homens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opinião: Um Thriller levezinho mas cheio de segredos e mistérios. Não conhecia os autores, e fiquei bastante impressionada com a qualidade de escrita e com a estória que encontrei. Lynda é uma mulher bem sucedida no Mundo da Moda, com uma família abastada e bem relacionada que criou marca e renome. Sempre rodeada de controvérsia, Lynda vive reclusa em sua casa e sem grande vida social, devido também à falta de autoestima. Ryan, marido de Lynda, aparenta ser o marido perfeito mas conforme o vamos conhecendo percebemos que não é bem assim e o que parece não é. Anna é uma treinadora pessoal, sensação nas redes sociais e vai entrar na vinda de Lynda de forma a ajudar a perder peso após uma lesão. Ao logo da narrativa assistimos à relação crescente entre Lynda e Anna, com altos e baixos, mas um segredo do passado vai pôr em causa o relacionamento delas e quiçá mudar a vida de ambas para sempre. É um livro de leitura rápida, compulsiva e interessante até à última página. Obrigado pela oportunidade de leitura antecipada (ARC) através do booksirens.com.

Eng Review: A light Thriller but full of secrets and mysteries. I didn't know the authors, and I was quite impressed with the quality of writing and the story i found. Lynda is a successful woman in the Fashion World, with a wealthy and well-connected family that has created a brand and renown. Always surrounded by controversy, Lynda lives recluse in her home and without much of a social life, also due to a lack of self-esteem. Ryan, Lynda's husband, appears to be the perfect husband but as we get to know him we realize that he isn't quite like that and what he seems isn't. Anna is a personal trainer, social media sensation and will be joining Lynda in order to help her lose weight after an injury. Throughout the narrative we witness the growing relationship between Lynda and Anna, with ups and downs, but a secret from the past will put their relationship into question and perhaps change their lives forever. It's a quick, compulsive and interesting read until the last page. Thank you for the advance reading (ARC) opportunity.

@bibliotecamil_insta/bibliotecamil.wordpress.com

[Eva Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Wife Inside by Winter K. Willis is a domestic thriller with so much happening! And I mean - a lot of happening. I would say that the first 50% of the book doesn't feel like a thriller but I liked the setup and the purpose of it. Some parts there felt unnecessarily long but it could be just for me as I am not a massive fan of page-long descriptions.
The second part of the book was more like a suspense thriller with unexpected twists and turns. I don't know how but I managed to guess one of the big twists, but literally one page before. Just a thought popped into my mind and I was surprised that the next thing I was reading was exactly what I thought!
I liked that the characters weren't naive or stupid and there was a logic behind all the things.
If the first part would not be so slow it would be a solid 5 stars but it was too slow for me until things started to happen.

Anna is a fitness influencer who has been invited to take a personal trainer live-in position to help Lynda with weight loss. Lynda is the successful CEO of a multi-million fashion/beauty company who lost all her confidence because of her current looks. What was supposed to be a simple task for Anna turns into massive chaos and nothing is like was before. Day by day Anna discovers new imperfections but too late to step back.

I am not sure I understood why this book is called The Wife Inside!

Thank you Booksirens for this copy, in general, I really enjoyed this book and I loved how many unexpected twists were at the end of the book. Definitely recommend!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Decent Thriller with Intriguing Twists, But Lacking Depth

Winter K. Willis delivers an intriguing premise with The Wife Inside, blending suspense and psychological drama. The story’s twists kept me turning the pages, and there were moments of genuine surprise that I didn’t see coming. The tension between the characters was compelling, and the author’s writing style made it easy to immerse myself in the story.

However, I found the character development somewhat lacking. While the plot kept me engaged, I struggled to connect with the protagonists on a deeper level. Their motivations often felt underexplored, leaving me wanting more emotional complexity to match the intensity of the storyline. Additionally, certain aspects of the ending felt rushed, which left me with unanswered questions and a sense of unfinished business.

Overall, The Wife Inside is a decent read for fans of fast-paced thrillers who enjoy a good twist, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of character depth and resolution.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 

The Wife Inside is about a rich, yet reclusive, woman named Lynda who hires Anna as a personal trainer. Anna is going through quite a shake-up in her own life, so she hopes that this new job offer will benefit both women; however, Lynda has an ulterior motive.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the story surrounds Lynda's "journey" while throwing in all predictable tropes in an attempt to make this story a thriller. There's absolutely nothing believeable about any of the scenarios, which was kind of a letdown. I almost didn't finish the book a couple of times, but I did want to give the storyline a fair chance at a redemption (that never came). 

While this book was sadly not meant for me, it may be for other readers. 

[Amanda Koogler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the third book I have read by this author and it did not disappoint. When Lynda "discovers" Anna online and decides she wants to hire her to help her become a fit and healthier person, Anna can't believe her luck. As an online influencer the impact of a well known client like Lynda will certainly help build her following and hopefully get her an inside track to working with high end celebrities. However, Anna just can't shake the feeling that something is off (not necessarily with Lynda… at first) but she doesn't know what and can't pass up the opportunity. Full of twists and turns all the way to the last page this was truly a great read and one I couldn't put down.

I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenny M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynda runs a multi-million dollar hair business. She lives in a gorgeous mansion with her husband Ryan, who works for her business. Lynda has some self-esteem issues due to some weight game over the past couple of years. She hires Anna, a personal trainer. Lynda is worried about staying on track, so asks Anna to move in.

Anna quickly realizes that Lynda and Ryan's lives are not perfect. As time goes on, Anna becomes wrapped up in their secrets and lies.

This is an average read. It's super predictable (except for one twist I didn't guess). Some parts felt a little too drawn out for me. The fitness influencer part kind of bogged things down as well. I also don't really see how the title works for this one. Anyways, not a terrible read. I will still give this author another try.

Thank you Celestial Bear Publishing and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Lyn

[Vivienne Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absorbing Thriller with a Spiraling Ending

What a nail-biting, heart-pounding, and subtly written narrative, where looks can be misleading. The plot is imaginative with its complex and wary characters, expressive settings, and great conversations. Protagonist Anna is a successful social media fitness influencer but will realize that everything is not what it appears to be when Lynda Adams, a successful mogul, makes an odd request, exposing secrets and lies, manipulation, disloyalty, deception, pretense, bitterness, and murder. It’s a page-turner that will keep you guessing from start to finish. Dimitri and Ryan Adams will have you speculating their true intentions, leading up to an unexpected twist of an ending, reminding us to never judge a book by its cover.

[Dawn Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Lynda asks Anna to move in with her and be her personal trainer. She has worked at home and let herself go.
Lynda has a beautiful home and a handsome husband sharing the load of running her business but— looks are deceiving. Her husband is unfaithful and wants her out, Anna moves in and begins training her and managing her eating but the longer she is there the more things begin to worry her! Is she paranoid or does she have cause to worry? Should she continue to stay there or leave? And then— Lynda shares with her a shocking secret? Can it be true?

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

You cannot judge a book by its cover. Lynda, who is a rich, reclusive woman, hires Anna as her personal trainer. However, Anna must move in with Lynda and her husband if she wants this job. Right now, Anna’s life is not following the path that she would like so she decides to take the job. This is when things start to take a turn. There’s Lynda, her husband and some other unknowns in anna’s life that keep you on your toes throughout the book. Follow along the path of intrigue and watch out for what happens next. Definitely adding the author to my list. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the opportunity to review this ARC.

[Antoinette Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a slow read and Left me with questions. Anna just was completely in the dark
Linda I want to know more of her background she hinted that her family went into the beauty
business basically as a way to clean up their money. Ryan didn't marry for love but as a come up. He
Openly cheafed on Linda with no care in the world. Who was the stalking Anna? This book left me with
a lot of unanswered questions. I wish I could have also gotten Ryan's POV. How did he know
who Anna was? The highlight of the story happend within the last 30 pages. I understand the need to build up a story but there were so many loose ends.

[Pheadra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book in return for a voluntary review. Despite still requiring a thorough edit, I did not allow the obvious grammatical errors to affect my rating. I had worked out long in advance what the twist in this story was, but this in no way diminished my enjoyment of this book. Lynda, a highly successful businesswoman, is married to a serial cheating opportunist, Ryan. She approaches Anna, a young, successful lifestyle influencer to help her get back into shape. Anna, meanwhile, having walked in on her fiance Greg with another woman, is ready for a change and decides to accept Lynda's offer, which necessitates moving in with Lynda. At the same time, Anna fears she is being stalked. 4 stars

[Amanda Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting thriller. Lynda is a very successful business woman with a cheating husband, Ryan who just wants her gone. Anna is hired to move in with Lynda and Ryan as her personal trainer to help her get back in shape. It doesn’t take Anna long to realize that something weird is going on in this house. There are so many twists in this book. It’s for sure a page turner. I was Not expecting the ending at all.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Celestial Bear Publishing and NetGalley for an early copy of The Wife Inside. The title could be better, didn’t really pertain to the story. I knew Dimitri was no good from the beginning. I stayed with the book because I wanted to see how the weight loss journey turned out and that part was good but the other plots in the book didn’t really go with the main story. It wasn’t one of the best books I’ve read but I’m still glad I did read it.

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC
Great domestic thriller. Anna is an influencer who is asked to move in with Lynda and Ryan as her personal trainer to help her get back in shape. Lynda is a successful woman with a cheating husband, Ryan who just wants her gone. It doesn’t take long for Anna to realize things are terribly wrong.
There are so many twists in this book. You will not see the end coming.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually felt sorry for Lynda in this story. I wasn't overly impressed with her husband Ryan either. Anna left me guessing as to why she would leave the job she loved so much just for one person. I get that it would 'boost' her ratings on social media, but what if it didn't work out? I was not expecting the big twist that Lynda put out there and that Ryan already knew about. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension in "The Wife Inside" builds slowly as we get to know Anna & how her life intertwines with Lynda's when she moves into Lynda's house & becomes her personal trainer. The longer that Anna's there, the more paranoid she becomes as she realizes that things aren't always as they seem & she starts to fear for her life. Twists & turns abound to a shocking & unexpected conclusion you'll never see coming.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I was excited about the premise but man oh man did the last 1/4 or the book just really fall apart for me. I did not connect with either of the main characters Anna and Lynda so was not invested enough to want resolution for them. It was written well but the content was just not for me. For me this is a 2.5 rounded up to a 3.

[Kristen Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a little eh for me

I liked and disliked the story. The inner monologue was redundant to say the least. The ending was different than I expected and ended too quickly. I knew who the person from the prologue was all along. Simply put this story was a bit too predictable if you ask me.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read

This kept my interest for sure. Wondering what each person's motives were and when the real personality would come to light. There is enough going on in the background of the real story to keep you guessing about what is going to happen. Characters are well formed and easy to get to know.

[Teddi Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wife Inside is an easy read and an interesting mystery. I enjoyed the main character and thought she was developed well. I was very surprised at the ending. Not at all what I expected! #netgalley @netgalley

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is everything you want in a domestic noir! So many twists and turns, well written characters and an ending that had my jaw on the floor. I also loved that it felt such a fresh and original plot and I was absolutely Hooked

[Jourdan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had me guessing the entire time and I could not figure out where the plot was going. In the end, there was a twist but it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. I personally thought the twist could have been a lot better, but it was still a good suspenseful read.