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Die Erbin
Ein traumhafter Landsitz. Ein Mann zwischen zwei Frauen. Ein Todesfall. Und eine Wer ist das nächste Opfer?Der neue spannende Psycho-Thriller vom internationalen Bestsellerautor – voller überraschender Twists und packend bis zum Schluss!Als die Geschwister Finn und Jess vom Tod ihres Vaters erfahren, sind sie nicht sonderlich betroffen. Die Scheidung ihrer Eltern liegt lange zurück, und Kontakt zum Vater, der nach Mallorca auswanderte und ein unkonventionelles Althippie-Leben führte, hatten sie ohnehin nicht. Nun erben sie seine heruntergekommene Finca, mitten in den idyllischen Hügeln der Mittelmeerinsel. Der einzige Ruensa, die neue Frau ihres Vaters, die dort noch lebt. Finn fliegt nach Mallorca, um die Sache möglichst schnell und sauber zu klären. Seine Überraschung ist groß, als er ein luxuriös renoviertes Anwesen vorfindet und die atemberaubende Roze, die erwachsene Tochter seiner Stiefmutter. Hals über Kopf verliebt sich Finn in die geheimnisvolle und so verletzlich wirkende Roze und will alles dafür tun, dass sie auf der Finca – und bei ihm – bleiben kann. Doch dann beginnt die Polizei, Fragen zum vermeintlichen Unfalltod seines Vaters zu stellen, und auch Finn wird unsicher. Welches dunkle Geheimnis aus ihrer Vergangenheit verbergen die beiden Frauen? Sind sie wirklich die hilflosen Opfer, die unverschuldet in diese Situation geraten sind? Oder wollen sie die Finca für sich – koste es, was es wolle?»Delaney ist einfach der König der Psycho-Spannung! Seine Stories gleichen immer einem Labyrinth, hinter jeder Ecke lauert ein neuer Twist. Auch ›Die Frau danach‹ ist bis zum Schluss eine packende Lektüre, die auf ganzer Linie überzeugt!« Hot Press
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2023
274 people are currently reading
4370 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Delaney
12 books5,307 followersJ. P. Delaney is the pseudonym of a writer who has previously published best-selling fiction under another name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 590 reviews
August 12, 2023
This book, labeled as a thriller, should ideally grip me right from the opening chapter. However, it is a slowburn, focusing primarily on unraveling mysteries. The characters Ruensa and Roze seem to harbor secrets, while Finn appears somewhat naive, influenced by his recently acquainted stepmother and stepsister who are dealing with recent widowhood. Unfortunately, the overall plot lacks a compelling execution.
May 23, 2023
4+
Siblings Finn and Jess learn their father has died and it’s not a cause of sorrow. The pair will inherit the Mallorcan finca their father has lived in with his third wife Ruensa and her daughter Roze. Finn agrees to travel to the Balearic Islands, partly out of curiosity to meet wife number three, but principally to stake their claim to the finca. What follows on this beautiful island takes a distinct path to uncertainty.
First of all, JP Delaney always writes easy to read and very enjoyable novels, this one centres around the thorny issue of inheritance. However, it goes way deeper than that with a central premise being who is the hunter, who the prey as an unpredictable cat and mouse game ensues. What is so clever about this one is your suspicion flip-flops from one direction to another and you have no idea who is truthful, unreliable and who is a secretive liar. There are some very odd incidents that throw you off the scent as we encounter manipulation in order to conceal true motives. At times, it’s sinister with the rising Mallorcan heat adding to the building tension. As back stories emerge, again, this adds to the misgivings and speculation. There are some very good twists, especially towards the end and these are very surprising. Well played Mr Delaney! I especially like the surreal moments as the novel reaches its conclusion where you have no clue what’s real and what’s not and I love the uncertainty. The ambiguous ending perfectly matches, the narrative and I really like it.
The setting on Mallorca is fantastic and is used to great effect, especially at suspenseful moments. The location of the finca in the mountains gives a vertiginous sensation especially the drive up. Yikes! It’s rich in atmosphere and is described very well and you feel as if you are on the island.
Overall, I think this is a stellar, absorbing page turner and it’s well worth reading the authors note at the end. I think he’s done the inspiration justice.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Siblings Finn and Jess learn their father has died and it’s not a cause of sorrow. The pair will inherit the Mallorcan finca their father has lived in with his third wife Ruensa and her daughter Roze. Finn agrees to travel to the Balearic Islands, partly out of curiosity to meet wife number three, but principally to stake their claim to the finca. What follows on this beautiful island takes a distinct path to uncertainty.
First of all, JP Delaney always writes easy to read and very enjoyable novels, this one centres around the thorny issue of inheritance. However, it goes way deeper than that with a central premise being who is the hunter, who the prey as an unpredictable cat and mouse game ensues. What is so clever about this one is your suspicion flip-flops from one direction to another and you have no idea who is truthful, unreliable and who is a secretive liar. There are some very odd incidents that throw you off the scent as we encounter manipulation in order to conceal true motives. At times, it’s sinister with the rising Mallorcan heat adding to the building tension. As back stories emerge, again, this adds to the misgivings and speculation. There are some very good twists, especially towards the end and these are very surprising. Well played Mr Delaney! I especially like the surreal moments as the novel reaches its conclusion where you have no clue what’s real and what’s not and I love the uncertainty. The ambiguous ending perfectly matches, the narrative and I really like it.
The setting on Mallorca is fantastic and is used to great effect, especially at suspenseful moments. The location of the finca in the mountains gives a vertiginous sensation especially the drive up. Yikes! It’s rich in atmosphere and is described very well and you feel as if you are on the island.
Overall, I think this is a stellar, absorbing page turner and it’s well worth reading the authors note at the end. I think he’s done the inspiration justice.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 30, 2023
It’s been a while since I read it and I still remember most of this book. Devouring psychological thrillers means that if it’s predictable or follows the same plot as others, I struggle to remember what the book was about. What made me remember this was probably the unusual setting and distinctive characters. I remember feeling at times that everything was a bit unbelievable, but it wasn’t irritating. I loved the ending, which was a major plus. The minus was the naivety of the main character.
July 22, 2023
EXCERPT: Did any of us speak a word that day that was true, I now wonder? Perhaps those few words that weren't in English might have been the cold unvarnished truth - a brief instruction to the older woman on how she should respond. But as for the rest - how much of it was half-lies and evasions, snares in which to catch our prey? Each of us drawing the other in, trying to bind them with threads as fine as spiders' webs, even as we ourselves were being bound.
ABOUT 'THE NEW WIFE': When Finn Hensen gets a call from his sister Jess to say their father has died, neither is heartbroken. Their parents divorced many years ago, after which their father, Jimmy, continued to live a bohemian lifestyle in sun-soaked Mallorca, while his family returned to the UK.
Ownership of his home, a beautiful but dilapidated farmhouse in the mountains, now passes to Finn and his sister. The only problem is that Jimmy recently remarried for the third time, and his new wife, Ruensa, is still living there.
The pair agree that Finn should go to Mallorca and tactfully take possession of their inheritance. When he arrives, however, Finn is surprised to find that Finca Siquia has been completely transformed into a chic Mediterranean bolthole by Ruensa - along with her twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Roze. The Spanish police, meanwhile, are asking awkward questions about Jimmy's death . . . Are Ruensa and Roze the helpless victims of circumstance? Or will they stop at nothing to get Finca Siquia for themselves?
MY THOUGHTS: If you've ever been in one of those fairground crazy houses where the floor moves unpredictably as you're trying to walk, you'll have some understanding of my reading experience with 'The New Wife'.
Initially the story is a slow burn, kept interesting by Finn's inability to fully trust Ruensa and her daughter, Roze, as much as he wants to. Although Ruenza and Roze always have a perfectly logical explanation for anything Finn queries, and my sympathies initially lay with them, I found that I didn't entirely trust them either.
However, things are turned on their head towards the end of the book and I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew. The last ten percent of the book took a very strange turn and I didn't enjoy either this or the ending.
I have enjoyed Delaney's previous works, and I am probably an outlier on my feelings abiut this one, so do please read some of the more positive reviews before deciding whether or not to read The New Wife.
⭐⭐⭐
#TheNewWife #NetGalley
I: #jpdelaney @quercusbooks
T: #jpdelaney @QuercusBooks
#domesticdrama #mystery #contemporaryfiction
THE AUTHOR: J. P. Delaney is the pseudonym of a writer who has previously published best-selling fiction under another name.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The New Wife by J.P. Delaney for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
ABOUT 'THE NEW WIFE': When Finn Hensen gets a call from his sister Jess to say their father has died, neither is heartbroken. Their parents divorced many years ago, after which their father, Jimmy, continued to live a bohemian lifestyle in sun-soaked Mallorca, while his family returned to the UK.
Ownership of his home, a beautiful but dilapidated farmhouse in the mountains, now passes to Finn and his sister. The only problem is that Jimmy recently remarried for the third time, and his new wife, Ruensa, is still living there.
The pair agree that Finn should go to Mallorca and tactfully take possession of their inheritance. When he arrives, however, Finn is surprised to find that Finca Siquia has been completely transformed into a chic Mediterranean bolthole by Ruensa - along with her twenty-seven-year-old daughter, Roze. The Spanish police, meanwhile, are asking awkward questions about Jimmy's death . . . Are Ruensa and Roze the helpless victims of circumstance? Or will they stop at nothing to get Finca Siquia for themselves?
MY THOUGHTS: If you've ever been in one of those fairground crazy houses where the floor moves unpredictably as you're trying to walk, you'll have some understanding of my reading experience with 'The New Wife'.
Initially the story is a slow burn, kept interesting by Finn's inability to fully trust Ruensa and her daughter, Roze, as much as he wants to. Although Ruenza and Roze always have a perfectly logical explanation for anything Finn queries, and my sympathies initially lay with them, I found that I didn't entirely trust them either.
However, things are turned on their head towards the end of the book and I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew. The last ten percent of the book took a very strange turn and I didn't enjoy either this or the ending.
I have enjoyed Delaney's previous works, and I am probably an outlier on my feelings abiut this one, so do please read some of the more positive reviews before deciding whether or not to read The New Wife.
⭐⭐⭐
#TheNewWife #NetGalley
I: #jpdelaney @quercusbooks
T: #jpdelaney @QuercusBooks
#domesticdrama #mystery #contemporaryfiction
THE AUTHOR: J. P. Delaney is the pseudonym of a writer who has previously published best-selling fiction under another name.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The New Wife by J.P. Delaney for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
July 16, 2023
When Finn Hensen gets a phone call from his sister Jess to say their father has died, neither is heartbroken. Their parents divorced many years ago, after which their father, Jimmy, continued to live a bohemian lifestyle in sun-soaked Mallorca, while his family returned to the UK. Ownership of his home, a beautiful but dilapidated farmhouse in the mountains, now passes to Finn and his sister. The only problem is that Jimmy recently married for the third time, and his new wife, Ruensa, is still living there. The pair agree that Finn should go to Mallorca and tactfully take possession of their inheritance.
This fast-paced thriller had me quickly turning the pages. I was instantly pulled in. Jess and Finn's father has passed away. It'd decided that Finn will travel to Mallorca to his father's home to sort out his estate. But when he gets there, all is not what he expected. His father's third wife and daughter are still living there. Can Finn persuade them to leave? There's suspicion. obsession and manipulation in this well written book. None of the characters were likeable, but they were well developed. There's twists and turns and by the time you near the end of the story, everything you thought you had worked out will be wrong.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #JPDelaney for my ARC of #TheNewWife in exchange for an honest review.
This fast-paced thriller had me quickly turning the pages. I was instantly pulled in. Jess and Finn's father has passed away. It'd decided that Finn will travel to Mallorca to his father's home to sort out his estate. But when he gets there, all is not what he expected. His father's third wife and daughter are still living there. Can Finn persuade them to leave? There's suspicion. obsession and manipulation in this well written book. None of the characters were likeable, but they were well developed. There's twists and turns and by the time you near the end of the story, everything you thought you had worked out will be wrong.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #JPDelaney for my ARC of #TheNewWife in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2023
2.5 / 5
Sorry but what just happened in this book, the last 60 pages flipped the book the other way round, and all the additional information comes out of no where and the plot goes further south. I understand adding a twist in the plot, but I don’t think I’ve seen such an extreme twist coming that it’s genuinely left me super confused. I didn’t see the plot ending in that way.
It’s all about inheritance, after Finn’s and Jess’ estranged father dies in Mallorca. He owns a home which essentially is passed down to the children. Finn goes out to Mallorca to sort out the legal stuff, and pay his respects to his father’s third wife and daughter Ruensa and Roze. And it all goes south, completely what I was not expecting.
Finn goes from being a sound person to a certified creep wanting to stick it on with the daughter. I would say the book before the last 60 pages was a solid 3.5, but after the twist it’s dropped to a 2.5. Even though the writing is good, I didn’t like how drastic and dramatic the twist is. Will be avoiding this author.
Sorry but what just happened in this book, the last 60 pages flipped the book the other way round, and all the additional information comes out of no where and the plot goes further south. I understand adding a twist in the plot, but I don’t think I’ve seen such an extreme twist coming that it’s genuinely left me super confused. I didn’t see the plot ending in that way.
It’s all about inheritance, after Finn’s and Jess’ estranged father dies in Mallorca. He owns a home which essentially is passed down to the children. Finn goes out to Mallorca to sort out the legal stuff, and pay his respects to his father’s third wife and daughter Ruensa and Roze. And it all goes south, completely what I was not expecting.
Finn goes from being a sound person to a certified creep wanting to stick it on with the daughter. I would say the book before the last 60 pages was a solid 3.5, but after the twist it’s dropped to a 2.5. Even though the writing is good, I didn’t like how drastic and dramatic the twist is. Will be avoiding this author.
June 3, 2023
I have read and enjoyed all of this authors books and was super excited to get approved for an early copy of this one. While this was a slower burn than usual, it was a gripping story than I read in under 24 hours. A beautiful setting and sense of uncertainty had me hooked. The final chapters were so clever that I began to doubt everything that I had already read. I thought I knew exactly what was happening and happy to say that once again I was totally wrong.
Finn sets off to Mallorca or settle his estranged fathers estate after his death. Finn and his sister Jess are not saddened by his passing, but keen to claim their house that they have inherited, sell it and move on with their lives, only things are not that easy. Their fathers wife and step daughter are living in the house and have nowhere else to go. Things get complicated when Finn gets to know the 2 women.
That is all I am going to tell you about the story, any more would spoil it. It is a very well written story that will shock you many times over. If you have enjoyed this author a before you know how their books go!!
Thanks so much to Quercus Books for my advanced copy to read. Publishes on July 20th.
Finn sets off to Mallorca or settle his estranged fathers estate after his death. Finn and his sister Jess are not saddened by his passing, but keen to claim their house that they have inherited, sell it and move on with their lives, only things are not that easy. Their fathers wife and step daughter are living in the house and have nowhere else to go. Things get complicated when Finn gets to know the 2 women.
That is all I am going to tell you about the story, any more would spoil it. It is a very well written story that will shock you many times over. If you have enjoyed this author a before you know how their books go!!
Thanks so much to Quercus Books for my advanced copy to read. Publishes on July 20th.
August 23, 2023
Cuando Jess y Finn se enteran de que su padre ha muerto. Finn viaja a Mallorca para hacerse cargo de la herencia. Su padre se volvió a casar por tercera vez y la policía está investigando su extraño fallecimiento.
Lo curioso de la historia es que parece que Finn está siendo involucrado de la misma manera que lo fue su padre con la hija de la viuda ( la tercera esposa).
Pero claro en esta historia nada es todo lo que parece, y hay sospechas por todas partes. Lo que nos lleva a un final que aunque queda abierto a la interpretación, seguro que cada uno tiene su propia teoría.
Lo que parece un thriller tranquilo al final está lleno de sorpresas.
P.D: lo que queda claro es que como hermano deja un poquito que desear.
Lo curioso de la historia es que parece que Finn está siendo involucrado de la misma manera que lo fue su padre con la hija de la viuda ( la tercera esposa).
Pero claro en esta historia nada es todo lo que parece, y hay sospechas por todas partes. Lo que nos lleva a un final que aunque queda abierto a la interpretación, seguro que cada uno tiene su propia teoría.
Lo que parece un thriller tranquilo al final está lleno de sorpresas.
P.D: lo que queda claro es que como hermano deja un poquito que desear.
June 16, 2023
Reading The New Wife book was like being a fighter quiting after 10 rounds. At chapter 36, my 10 rounds came to an end.
The orange throwing fight, predicting Finn's real name starts with D (my guess was dipstick), and the trip to the jewellers were the most important events for me to decide upon. Finn whatching Roze as she lay by the pool from behind a curtain I found a little creepy all this while the papers were still not signed with the story almost at a stand still.
This was the slowest so called thriller that I have never finished and by this time I was cheering for Jess.
An independent review for NetGalley / Quercus
The orange throwing fight, predicting Finn's real name starts with D (my guess was dipstick), and the trip to the jewellers were the most important events for me to decide upon. Finn whatching Roze as she lay by the pool from behind a curtain I found a little creepy all this while the papers were still not signed with the story almost at a stand still.
This was the slowest so called thriller that I have never finished and by this time I was cheering for Jess.
An independent review for NetGalley / Quercus
July 19, 2023
This is a great psychological thriller that will certainly keep you guessing.
Finn and Jess receive the news that their father had passed away and Jess persuades Finn to go out to Spain and claim the property he left them.
His father’s new wife and her daughter are living there but Finn thinks the agreement in place will make it easy to take ownership of the house.
Ruensa and Roze welcome Finn and seem to accept that the house is not theirs to keep but the longer Finn stays, he realises the amount of work they have put into the property.
They tell Finn how they ended up in Spain and he wants to help them stay there, but at what cost?
I can’t say much more as there’s several twists and turns and I wouldn’t want to spoil it.
This is a great read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Finn and Jess receive the news that their father had passed away and Jess persuades Finn to go out to Spain and claim the property he left them.
His father’s new wife and her daughter are living there but Finn thinks the agreement in place will make it easy to take ownership of the house.
Ruensa and Roze welcome Finn and seem to accept that the house is not theirs to keep but the longer Finn stays, he realises the amount of work they have put into the property.
They tell Finn how they ended up in Spain and he wants to help them stay there, but at what cost?
I can’t say much more as there’s several twists and turns and I wouldn’t want to spoil it.
This is a great read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 7, 2023
First of all I would just like to thank NetGalley, J. P Delaney and Quercus for an ARC of “The New Wife” in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me at all, I really didn’t enjoy it. I felt it was lacking a plot, all the characters were insufferable and the ending was ridiculously underwhelming. It’s advertised as a “thriller” but I found no thrilling parts within this novel.
I was bored because nothing happened until about 80% into the book, by then what did occur either made no sense or was just pointless in my opinion. The plot was severely lacking, I still can’t work out what the actual storyline was supposed to be.
I will say however that the author’s descriptions of the settings in Spain were beautiful and exquisitely done- unfortunately that doesn’t justify the rest of the book being so bland.
Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me at all, I really didn’t enjoy it. I felt it was lacking a plot, all the characters were insufferable and the ending was ridiculously underwhelming. It’s advertised as a “thriller” but I found no thrilling parts within this novel.
I was bored because nothing happened until about 80% into the book, by then what did occur either made no sense or was just pointless in my opinion. The plot was severely lacking, I still can’t work out what the actual storyline was supposed to be.
I will say however that the author’s descriptions of the settings in Spain were beautiful and exquisitely done- unfortunately that doesn’t justify the rest of the book being so bland.
August 7, 2023
For such a short book, this was such a slog to get through. Literally put this down and couldn't remember a single thing.
October 20, 2024
Never wanted to punch a character more in my life than Finn
January 27, 2025
fast-paced thriller
rating: 3.75 ⭐
i picked this up as an easy read and i couldn’t put it down! i tore through it as much as possible while on vacay 😜 it was super interesting & captivating, i loved it !! 😻
furthermore, there were many tense moments which made the book exhilarating 🫶🏻
the plot twist was CRAZY and shocking, it was such a good idea to have Finn’s POV because it was even more unexpected 🤯
raced through the last part while at the edge of my seat
however, i did feel that this book was more a little unrealistic and weird in a way
rating: 3.75 ⭐
i picked this up as an easy read and i couldn’t put it down! i tore through it as much as possible while on vacay 😜 it was super interesting & captivating, i loved it !! 😻
furthermore, there were many tense moments which made the book exhilarating 🫶🏻
the plot twist was CRAZY and shocking, it was such a good idea to have Finn’s POV because it was even more unexpected 🤯
raced through the last part while at the edge of my seat
however, i did feel that this book was more a little unrealistic and weird in a way
May 25, 2023
I've had a mixed history with JP Delaney's books; I've really enjoyed a couple, but didn't like The Girl Before, which is perhaps his best known. Anyway, I wasn't sure what to expect from the uninspiringly titled The New Wife, but it was quite an evocative and intriguing read, set on the island of Mallorca.
Finn is our narrator, returning to his childhood home on Mallorca after his father's death. Childhood memories of a chaotic life in a run-down property with his dissolute, alcoholic artist father aren't great. But he and his sister Jess have, at least, now inherited the remote finca, accessible only via a terrifying sounding road. There are potential flies in the ointment, though, in the shape of his father's newly acquired third wife, Ruensa, and her daughter Roze. What Finn finds on arrival, however, isn't quite what he expects. Indeed, everyone may be getting more than they bargained for.
The setting is atmospheric and the characters nicely ambiguous. Who can be trusted?
It all went a bit nuts towards the end, and I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. Ultimately, we're left with rather more questions than answers. But an enjoyable read nevertheless, and I was interested in the parallels - which Delaney discussed in an afterword - with Daphne du Maurier's classic My Cousin Rachel.
Finn is our narrator, returning to his childhood home on Mallorca after his father's death. Childhood memories of a chaotic life in a run-down property with his dissolute, alcoholic artist father aren't great. But he and his sister Jess have, at least, now inherited the remote finca, accessible only via a terrifying sounding road. There are potential flies in the ointment, though, in the shape of his father's newly acquired third wife, Ruensa, and her daughter Roze. What Finn finds on arrival, however, isn't quite what he expects. Indeed, everyone may be getting more than they bargained for.
The setting is atmospheric and the characters nicely ambiguous. Who can be trusted?
It all went a bit nuts towards the end, and I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. Ultimately, we're left with rather more questions than answers. But an enjoyable read nevertheless, and I was interested in the parallels - which Delaney discussed in an afterword - with Daphne du Maurier's classic My Cousin Rachel.
January 2, 2024
Read it almost in one sitting.
Had me swinging back and forth between what the “agenda” was - so a solid 4 from me.
1 pt deduction for the ending. Didn’t quite land with me.
Had me swinging back and forth between what the “agenda” was - so a solid 4 from me.
1 pt deduction for the ending. Didn’t quite land with me.
January 27, 2024
huuhhhh
June 27, 2023
4.5*
Mystery set on MALLORCA
You Tube Review: https://youtu.be/dUxnPSacXGQ
The setting of this novel is very strong. Most of the story is set around Finca Síquia, set above fictional Cauzacs – about 25 miles as the crow flies from Palma. The house is set in the Tramuntana Mountains, NW Mallorca and the story offers an excellent feel for the island, from the donkey trails that surround the property, the all consuming heat, the food, all rounded off with a spattering of Mallorquí and some interesting facts about life on the island. The author clearly loves Mallorca.
Finn and Jess have inherited Fina Síquia from their bohemian artist father, who recently passed away. It becomes all too apparent that he had recently married Ruenza, who is the grieving wife and who continues to live in run-down building with her adult daughter Roze. By the time the siblings are informed, the funeral has already taken place. Finn is tasked with flying to Mallorca to start the legal proceedings and ensure that the occupants are aware that the building and land belongs to the family – to wit Finn and Jess -, an “usufructo” is in place, drawn up by Tomàs, the family lawyer-cum-friend
Ruenza warmly invites Finn to stay with them and he accepts and is taken aback by the renovated state of the building, mostly, it seems the work of the two women. They have clearly invested money in the property which is at odds with their father’s disinterest in maintaining it. Their father was an artist who was unfaithful to their mother, drank excessively and was a verbally aggressive man to all those around. Quite what Ruenza and her daughter might have seen in him is beyond him.
As the days pass, he comes to understand that the women have backstories in their homeland Albania and that his father seemingly died whilst inhaling the wood smoke of oleander bushes, which needed clearing. Anyone who grows up in climates where oleander proliferates will know that it is a highly poisonous plant and eating or inhaling the smoke from burning boughs can be fatal – as Hannibal found when he was moving his troops and many died when they cooked their food on fires stoked with oleander.
Jess, back in England, is trying to keep Finn on the straight and narrow, reminding him to focus on selling the property. She is supported by Tomàs but as time moves on, Finn is becoming more distant, his sister sees him being seduced by the women’s wiles – they clearly have an agenda to stay in the Finca.
I really enjoyed the novel, I was engrossed as the story bowled along and I find the author’s style and story construction convincing. The end, however, felt like it ramped up a gear and became a little frantic, with a dream sequence, and overall it felt neither convincingly nor tightly crafted, which felt out of step with the rest of the novel.
In the author’s note he specifies the particular novel that inspired this book, which adds an interesting insight into the story and the way it unfolds.
Mystery set on MALLORCA
You Tube Review: https://youtu.be/dUxnPSacXGQ
The setting of this novel is very strong. Most of the story is set around Finca Síquia, set above fictional Cauzacs – about 25 miles as the crow flies from Palma. The house is set in the Tramuntana Mountains, NW Mallorca and the story offers an excellent feel for the island, from the donkey trails that surround the property, the all consuming heat, the food, all rounded off with a spattering of Mallorquí and some interesting facts about life on the island. The author clearly loves Mallorca.
Finn and Jess have inherited Fina Síquia from their bohemian artist father, who recently passed away. It becomes all too apparent that he had recently married Ruenza, who is the grieving wife and who continues to live in run-down building with her adult daughter Roze. By the time the siblings are informed, the funeral has already taken place. Finn is tasked with flying to Mallorca to start the legal proceedings and ensure that the occupants are aware that the building and land belongs to the family – to wit Finn and Jess -, an “usufructo” is in place, drawn up by Tomàs, the family lawyer-cum-friend
Ruenza warmly invites Finn to stay with them and he accepts and is taken aback by the renovated state of the building, mostly, it seems the work of the two women. They have clearly invested money in the property which is at odds with their father’s disinterest in maintaining it. Their father was an artist who was unfaithful to their mother, drank excessively and was a verbally aggressive man to all those around. Quite what Ruenza and her daughter might have seen in him is beyond him.
As the days pass, he comes to understand that the women have backstories in their homeland Albania and that his father seemingly died whilst inhaling the wood smoke of oleander bushes, which needed clearing. Anyone who grows up in climates where oleander proliferates will know that it is a highly poisonous plant and eating or inhaling the smoke from burning boughs can be fatal – as Hannibal found when he was moving his troops and many died when they cooked their food on fires stoked with oleander.
Jess, back in England, is trying to keep Finn on the straight and narrow, reminding him to focus on selling the property. She is supported by Tomàs but as time moves on, Finn is becoming more distant, his sister sees him being seduced by the women’s wiles – they clearly have an agenda to stay in the Finca.
I really enjoyed the novel, I was engrossed as the story bowled along and I find the author’s style and story construction convincing. The end, however, felt like it ramped up a gear and became a little frantic, with a dream sequence, and overall it felt neither convincingly nor tightly crafted, which felt out of step with the rest of the novel.
In the author’s note he specifies the particular novel that inspired this book, which adds an interesting insight into the story and the way it unfolds.
August 7, 2023
Liked this book a lot , not as gripping as his usual books but full of the twists and turns that you’d expect
March 29, 2025
"Did any of us speak a word that day that was true, I now wonder? Perhaps those few words that weren't in English might have been the cold unvarnished truth - a brief instruction to the older woman on how she should respond. But as for the rest - how much of it was half-lies and evasions, snares in which to catch our prey? Each of us drawing the other in, trying to bind them with threads as fine as spiders' webs, even as we ourselves were being bound."
When Finn and Jess find out their father - whom they have not seen in years - died, Finn, reluctantly, travels to Mallorca to take possession of their inheritance, the beautiful Finca Siquia. When he gets there, he not only meets his dad's widow but also her beautiful daughter, Roze. And on top of all that, the police are asking questions, doubting whether Finn and Jess's father died naturally after all.
The New Wife has a relatively low average rating and while I understand some reasons why it might be so (it is not an action-packed thriller full of little mysteries, twists, scares and so on, and I have a feeling many will feel disappointed by the ending) I actually really enjoyed it. Even though not much happens - it's a character-focused story more about an unsettling vibe rather than a case to be solved - Delaney has a way of hooking his reader that really works for me. I always fly through his novels, engaged from page one. His writing is perhaps not the most unique out there, but he has a knack for writing delightfully messy characters who he is not afraid to let be a bit fucked up, which I love.
I enjoyed the closed setting - the book mostly focuses on three people in the finca and their relationships. I loved the way Delaney described the natural world of Mallorca, the culture, the language and the work Roze and Ruensa do everyday from gathering fruits to taking care of the land. It all seems so idyllic until it doesn't. The finca has a really dark history with Jimmy, the dead father, and his hedonistic, drug and booze -filled faux-hippie lifestyle full of orgies, emotional abuse, substance abuse and general instability, and I liked how, even though Roze and Ruensa had fixed it up, the past was still there, impacting everyone and everything. I appreciated how Delaney explored the kind of trauma that kids who grew up in that kind of situation without stability, genuine care and emotional support, subjected to "adult" things way too early in life as well as strict, harming gender norms, might be left with: Jess took a long time coming to terms with her sexual past and healing from it, and Finn is haunted by all his dad said about him not being a proper boy and man. All three main characters were solid, and the dynamics between them were interesting. The supporting cast - Jess, the lawyers and so on - were also well done. Jimmy is naturally not present in the story, but his memory looms over the finca and every character in it, which I really enjoyed. As with so many things in this story, the reader is not given direct answers about what he was like: some say he had changed, some loved him, some hated him and some saw him as a drunken pervert who pretended to be all spiritual to get laid. The reader is left to make their own interpretations about Jimmy - and it is the same for each character.
I found the narrator, Finn, very well crafted. He starts off as a regular dude who grew up in a very weird, toxic and unstable household with his sister. They have both moved on and made something of themselves, enjoying a "normal" life. But as the book goes on and he spends more time on Mallorca, more is revealed about Finn. We see him connect with his past, begin dreaming of a different kind of life and fall in love. He is a frustrating character and sometimes made me want to shake him a little bit, because his decisions are not always smart. He is led by his emotions, but not in a way that makes a reader go "Wow, inspirational, wish I was able to follow my heart in that way" but "Dude what are you doing, listen to your sister". Near the end, when What we learn near the end, made everything about the book and especially Finn's relationship with Jess so much more intriguing. I remembered the way
At first, I wondered what the central mystery will be - is it how Jimmy died, or whether Roze is playing Finn, or what happened before, back when Finn and Jess were kids. When I glanced at the afterword and realized that Delaney had been inspired by Daphne du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel, I immediately knew what the story set out to do. And it did so wonderfully. I love that, in the end, the reader is I do not have a 100% certain beliefs about what happened and why, and
I found the way this book tackled the topic of toxic masculinity very well. Sometimes it is outright emotionally or physically violent, like Jimmy's, and is evident in every horrible thing they say about women but masculinity as well. But sometimes it is more subtle: it is making assumptions, assuming you know better than women, creating perfect images in your head and then getting mad when a woman, obviously, fails to fulfil unreasonable expectations and dares to be a flawed individual with their own brain. It is not always something you can see clearly, and some forms are more destructive than others. The book also deals a lot with migration issues, and the way countries and people deal with "illegal people". There is a specific focus on Spain's legal system. Delaney also shines a light on the kind of everyday racism people like Ruensa and Roze face, with them being assumed to be criminals because of their ethnicity and migrant status, and the police seeming to always expect the worst from them. I cannot talk on the accuracy of Delaney's exploration of the migrant experience and everything to do with legalities in Spain regarding residency and citizenship.
I think this is on the weaker side of 4/5 stars – in reality, it would probably be 3,75 or something like that. But I think rounding the book up to 4/5 is only fair because of how much fun I had reading it and because there literally was not a single moment I felt bored. This book just didn't quite reach the heights of, say, Playing Nice or Believe Me, which made my stomach ache because of how stressed I was by the story and mystery. I can understand why some people wouldn't like this book - if you dislike even slightly open endings, you are going to loathe this story - but I think it deserves a bit more attention and appreciation!
When Finn and Jess find out their father - whom they have not seen in years - died, Finn, reluctantly, travels to Mallorca to take possession of their inheritance, the beautiful Finca Siquia. When he gets there, he not only meets his dad's widow but also her beautiful daughter, Roze. And on top of all that, the police are asking questions, doubting whether Finn and Jess's father died naturally after all.
The New Wife has a relatively low average rating and while I understand some reasons why it might be so (it is not an action-packed thriller full of little mysteries, twists, scares and so on, and I have a feeling many will feel disappointed by the ending) I actually really enjoyed it. Even though not much happens - it's a character-focused story more about an unsettling vibe rather than a case to be solved - Delaney has a way of hooking his reader that really works for me. I always fly through his novels, engaged from page one. His writing is perhaps not the most unique out there, but he has a knack for writing delightfully messy characters who he is not afraid to let be a bit fucked up, which I love.
I enjoyed the closed setting - the book mostly focuses on three people in the finca and their relationships. I loved the way Delaney described the natural world of Mallorca, the culture, the language and the work Roze and Ruensa do everyday from gathering fruits to taking care of the land. It all seems so idyllic until it doesn't. The finca has a really dark history with Jimmy, the dead father, and his hedonistic, drug and booze -filled faux-hippie lifestyle full of orgies, emotional abuse, substance abuse and general instability, and I liked how, even though Roze and Ruensa had fixed it up, the past was still there, impacting everyone and everything. I appreciated how Delaney explored the kind of trauma that kids who grew up in that kind of situation without stability, genuine care and emotional support, subjected to "adult" things way too early in life as well as strict, harming gender norms, might be left with: Jess took a long time coming to terms with her sexual past and healing from it, and Finn is haunted by all his dad said about him not being a proper boy and man. All three main characters were solid, and the dynamics between them were interesting. The supporting cast - Jess, the lawyers and so on - were also well done. Jimmy is naturally not present in the story, but his memory looms over the finca and every character in it, which I really enjoyed. As with so many things in this story, the reader is not given direct answers about what he was like: some say he had changed, some loved him, some hated him and some saw him as a drunken pervert who pretended to be all spiritual to get laid. The reader is left to make their own interpretations about Jimmy - and it is the same for each character.
I found the narrator, Finn, very well crafted. He starts off as a regular dude who grew up in a very weird, toxic and unstable household with his sister. They have both moved on and made something of themselves, enjoying a "normal" life. But as the book goes on and he spends more time on Mallorca, more is revealed about Finn. We see him connect with his past, begin dreaming of a different kind of life and fall in love. He is a frustrating character and sometimes made me want to shake him a little bit, because his decisions are not always smart. He is led by his emotions, but not in a way that makes a reader go "Wow, inspirational, wish I was able to follow my heart in that way" but "Dude what are you doing, listen to your sister". Near the end, when What we learn near the end, made everything about the book and especially Finn's relationship with Jess so much more intriguing. I remembered the way
At first, I wondered what the central mystery will be - is it how Jimmy died, or whether Roze is playing Finn, or what happened before, back when Finn and Jess were kids. When I glanced at the afterword and realized that Delaney had been inspired by Daphne du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel, I immediately knew what the story set out to do. And it did so wonderfully. I love that, in the end, the reader is I do not have a 100% certain beliefs about what happened and why, and
I found the way this book tackled the topic of toxic masculinity very well. Sometimes it is outright emotionally or physically violent, like Jimmy's, and is evident in every horrible thing they say about women but masculinity as well. But sometimes it is more subtle: it is making assumptions, assuming you know better than women, creating perfect images in your head and then getting mad when a woman, obviously, fails to fulfil unreasonable expectations and dares to be a flawed individual with their own brain. It is not always something you can see clearly, and some forms are more destructive than others. The book also deals a lot with migration issues, and the way countries and people deal with "illegal people". There is a specific focus on Spain's legal system. Delaney also shines a light on the kind of everyday racism people like Ruensa and Roze face, with them being assumed to be criminals because of their ethnicity and migrant status, and the police seeming to always expect the worst from them. I cannot talk on the accuracy of Delaney's exploration of the migrant experience and everything to do with legalities in Spain regarding residency and citizenship.
I think this is on the weaker side of 4/5 stars – in reality, it would probably be 3,75 or something like that. But I think rounding the book up to 4/5 is only fair because of how much fun I had reading it and because there literally was not a single moment I felt bored. This book just didn't quite reach the heights of, say, Playing Nice or Believe Me, which made my stomach ache because of how stressed I was by the story and mystery. I can understand why some people wouldn't like this book - if you dislike even slightly open endings, you are going to loathe this story - but I think it deserves a bit more attention and appreciation!
July 27, 2023
*Unfortunately I didn’t manage to finish this until a day or two after publication date - apologies!
The New Wife is very much a smokes and mirrors tale, a tangled web of deception. What you see is not what you get, and the book even ends leaving you drawing your own conclusions, so maybe not for people who like their novels tied up in a neat bow! It is intriguing, and meanders around the tale of a house in Mallorca which has fallen into the hands of two siblings after their not-so-beloved father passes. However his wife and daughter live there and the whole situation is more than messy, especially as they are also illegal immigrants. The brother goes out to sort the affairs out and ends up staying and falling in love. But who is tricking who?
The story dragged me in and I did really enjoy it. I also adore JP Delaney novels and have read all of them.
However I found holes in this one. The biggest being around the brother who has come from an expensive bedsit (which he can barely afford) in London to sort the house out in Mallorca for a few days, and ends up staying all summer. He does barely any London based work - if any at all, and spends days, months working the farmland in Mallorca, but still has to support his life in London?? Characters are also introduced such as his sister, who plays barely a cameo role, is feisty and bitter in the first part, but a wet lettuce in the latter when she finally makes a reappearance. As if she would be!! If she was so against what was going on she would have found a way to get through to her brother or lawyer months before, despite her bro blocking her on his phone. Don’t get me wrong, if you can ignore these issues and just go along for the ride it’s a good read. But if you analyse your books you may end up a tad frustrated….
3.5 rounded down due to these niggles. Not Delaneys finest for me sorry!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The New Wife is very much a smokes and mirrors tale, a tangled web of deception. What you see is not what you get, and the book even ends leaving you drawing your own conclusions, so maybe not for people who like their novels tied up in a neat bow! It is intriguing, and meanders around the tale of a house in Mallorca which has fallen into the hands of two siblings after their not-so-beloved father passes. However his wife and daughter live there and the whole situation is more than messy, especially as they are also illegal immigrants. The brother goes out to sort the affairs out and ends up staying and falling in love. But who is tricking who?
The story dragged me in and I did really enjoy it. I also adore JP Delaney novels and have read all of them.
However I found holes in this one. The biggest being around the brother who has come from an expensive bedsit (which he can barely afford) in London to sort the house out in Mallorca for a few days, and ends up staying all summer. He does barely any London based work - if any at all, and spends days, months working the farmland in Mallorca, but still has to support his life in London?? Characters are also introduced such as his sister, who plays barely a cameo role, is feisty and bitter in the first part, but a wet lettuce in the latter when she finally makes a reappearance. As if she would be!! If she was so against what was going on she would have found a way to get through to her brother or lawyer months before, despite her bro blocking her on his phone. Don’t get me wrong, if you can ignore these issues and just go along for the ride it’s a good read. But if you analyse your books you may end up a tad frustrated….
3.5 rounded down due to these niggles. Not Delaneys finest for me sorry!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 1, 2023
Finn and Jess are brother and sister and quite close. They did not have the best childhood with their father constantly drunk upsetting everyone in the household and making life miserable. When Finn receives a call to say that his father has passed away he calls Jess to let her know and neither of them is overly upset at this news, but they both realise that their father's property is now legally theirs, as the title had been transferred to them both by their father. They are sure the place is completely run down from what they have been told by the family lawyer. Jess is all for selling the property, she has children and wants the money to help support and educate them. The only obstacle in the way may be their father's third wife Ruensa, and her daughter who are still living in the property
Jess suggests that Finn travel to Mallorca to meet the wife and reinforce to her that the property is his and his sister's name and that she will have to find other living arrangements . When he arrives the old place still looks run down but once closer and inside the property he is shocked at the renovations that have been made, the place is gorgeous.
Once there Finn he is quite taken with Ruesna daughter and feels sorry for the them as they have created a new home and now they will be forced to leave, or will they? Also their is now a question over their fathers death and the Spanish Police are involved into digging further into this. Another curve ball is about to be thrown into the whole story.
Once again JP Delaney writes another entertaining story which it is definitely worth picking up, it is a light read that still enjoyed very much. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
Jess suggests that Finn travel to Mallorca to meet the wife and reinforce to her that the property is his and his sister's name and that she will have to find other living arrangements . When he arrives the old place still looks run down but once closer and inside the property he is shocked at the renovations that have been made, the place is gorgeous.
Once there Finn he is quite taken with Ruesna daughter and feels sorry for the them as they have created a new home and now they will be forced to leave, or will they? Also their is now a question over their fathers death and the Spanish Police are involved into digging further into this. Another curve ball is about to be thrown into the whole story.
Once again JP Delaney writes another entertaining story which it is definitely worth picking up, it is a light read that still enjoyed very much. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
August 30, 2023
"I don't know if this is commiserations or congratulations, but I've got some news. Brace yourself. Dad's dead."
I usually love Delaney's book's, an instant buy. This was why I was delighted to receive an advance copy. But this one just didn't hit right with me, which was a shame.
Finn and Jess's father had passed away in Mallorca, where he lived with his third wife, who they have yet to meet. The house is to be inherited by the children, but they haven't seen it in years and presumed it was still falling to pieces. Finn goes out to sort out the league stuff out and to hopefully sell it as soon as possible. Only for Finn to discover the house had been renovated and both his fathers wife and her daughter are currently living there. However, not everything around his father's death is what it seems
It was an easy read but it was incredibly slow and lacked depth. It felt less of a thriller and mainly focused more on the mysteries and trying to find out what was truly going on. You could tell there was definitely some inspiration from 'My Cousin Rachel' by Daphne Du Maurier. I liked that you didn't really have an idea on what was happening. You didn't know who was being truthful or what to believe. At the end you are definitely left with more questions than answers.
"My generation is sometimes mocked for talking about 'my truth' rather than 'the truth' - an easy habit to criticise, but one which accepts, perhaps that, in a world where so many different versions of the facts are constantly available, it matters not so much what actually happened as who one chooses to believe"
*Thank You Netgalley for my advance copy of the book. Sorry I didn't finish the book sooner before publication
I usually love Delaney's book's, an instant buy. This was why I was delighted to receive an advance copy. But this one just didn't hit right with me, which was a shame.
Finn and Jess's father had passed away in Mallorca, where he lived with his third wife, who they have yet to meet. The house is to be inherited by the children, but they haven't seen it in years and presumed it was still falling to pieces. Finn goes out to sort out the league stuff out and to hopefully sell it as soon as possible. Only for Finn to discover the house had been renovated and both his fathers wife and her daughter are currently living there. However, not everything around his father's death is what it seems
It was an easy read but it was incredibly slow and lacked depth. It felt less of a thriller and mainly focused more on the mysteries and trying to find out what was truly going on. You could tell there was definitely some inspiration from 'My Cousin Rachel' by Daphne Du Maurier. I liked that you didn't really have an idea on what was happening. You didn't know who was being truthful or what to believe. At the end you are definitely left with more questions than answers.
"My generation is sometimes mocked for talking about 'my truth' rather than 'the truth' - an easy habit to criticise, but one which accepts, perhaps that, in a world where so many different versions of the facts are constantly available, it matters not so much what actually happened as who one chooses to believe"
*Thank You Netgalley for my advance copy of the book. Sorry I didn't finish the book sooner before publication
August 1, 2023
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
A quick, plain and fair story that will give you a few hours of escapism.
Finn and his sister Jess get the news that their father has died.
They inherit a rundown Mallorca home from him.
But just before his passing, he remarried and his new wife Ruensa and her daughter, Roze, still live there.
Finn decides to travel to Spain to convince them to sell.
What he doesn’t expect to find is the place to be beautifully renovated.
Soon it comes to all their attention, that his father’s death is surrounded by suspicion.
What has happened?
Are Ruensa and Roze victims or are they responsible?
A slow burn narrative for fans of the easy-to-read thriller.
I found the second half of the story more exciting while the first half was just ok.
The premise gives off intrigue vibes but fails to deliver the excitement, suspense and drama.
I half predicted the outcome and the rest was unfortunately no surprise.
It’s only my second book from JP and the other one I really enjoyed, so I’m happy to read more from him.
This one just didn’t really work for me.
A quick, plain and fair story that will give you a few hours of escapism.
Finn and his sister Jess get the news that their father has died.
They inherit a rundown Mallorca home from him.
But just before his passing, he remarried and his new wife Ruensa and her daughter, Roze, still live there.
Finn decides to travel to Spain to convince them to sell.
What he doesn’t expect to find is the place to be beautifully renovated.
Soon it comes to all their attention, that his father’s death is surrounded by suspicion.
What has happened?
Are Ruensa and Roze victims or are they responsible?
A slow burn narrative for fans of the easy-to-read thriller.
I found the second half of the story more exciting while the first half was just ok.
The premise gives off intrigue vibes but fails to deliver the excitement, suspense and drama.
I half predicted the outcome and the rest was unfortunately no surprise.
It’s only my second book from JP and the other one I really enjoyed, so I’m happy to read more from him.
This one just didn’t really work for me.
June 4, 2023
Finn travels to Spain after the death of his father to claim his inheritance. When he arrives he is greeted by his fathers new wife and her daughter and he immediately falls under their spell.
A really good psychologist thriller with some very sinister overtones that kept me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A really good psychologist thriller with some very sinister overtones that kept me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2023
I've read and enjoyed some of JP Delaney's earlier thrillers, but The New Wife felt like a big, and interesting, change of pace. Finn and his sister grew up in Mallorca on a decaying finca, but after an abusive childhood, both of them left in their teens and haven't looked back. Now their father has died and they've inherited the finca - but their father's new wife, Ruensa, is still living there with her adult daughter Roze. Finn travels to Mallorca to sort out the legalities, but is stunned by what he finds - Ruensa and Roze have transformed the finca and its grounds, planning to set it up as a functioning agrotourism spot and a hostel for hikers. Moreover, he's immediately attracted to Roze, who draws him in with her mix of lightheartedness, practicality, and fragility. But was it really a coincidence that Finn's father died so shortly after his marriage? And will Ruensa and Roze give up their fledging business so easily?
Early on in this novel, I recognised the parallels with Daphne du Maurier's unforgettable My Cousin Rachel, and indeed this is an influence that Delaney explicitly acknowledges in the afterword. While, of course, The New Wife can't compete with du Maurier's classic, Delaney does capture some of its beauty and menace, gorgeously evoking his Mallorcan setting. As with Rachel in the du Maurier novel, we both want Roze to be what she seems and fear that she isn't - Delaney makes it completely convincing that Finn would be entranced by her against his better judgment. A late twist is effective, but I did feel that, unlike My Cousin Rachel, The New Wife then leans a little too hard into one interpretation of the characters, despite Delaney's efforts to keep the ending open. Du Maurier said that she deliberately never made up her mind about Rachel's true motives; Delaney admits, in his afterword, that he does know what Roze was about. Nevertheless, this is an original thriller that moves away from the familiar territory of Delaney's earlier work: I'd place it next to Lottie Moggach's Under The Sun and Sabine Durrant's Lie With Me. Perfect summer reading.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
Early on in this novel, I recognised the parallels with Daphne du Maurier's unforgettable My Cousin Rachel, and indeed this is an influence that Delaney explicitly acknowledges in the afterword. While, of course, The New Wife can't compete with du Maurier's classic, Delaney does capture some of its beauty and menace, gorgeously evoking his Mallorcan setting. As with Rachel in the du Maurier novel, we both want Roze to be what she seems and fear that she isn't - Delaney makes it completely convincing that Finn would be entranced by her against his better judgment. A late twist is effective, but I did feel that, unlike My Cousin Rachel, The New Wife then leans a little too hard into one interpretation of the characters, despite Delaney's efforts to keep the ending open. Du Maurier said that she deliberately never made up her mind about Rachel's true motives; Delaney admits, in his afterword, that he does know what Roze was about. Nevertheless, this is an original thriller that moves away from the familiar territory of Delaney's earlier work: I'd place it next to Lottie Moggach's Under The Sun and Sabine Durrant's Lie With Me. Perfect summer reading.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
June 12, 2023
When Finn Hensen's sister, Jess, calls to tell him their father has died, he is not heartbroken - neither is she. Their parents were never the traditional parents and didn't look after them. But he must visit the place where he grew up and his father lived, as it now belongs to Finn and his sister. The only problem is his father's new wife is living there and he needs to break it to her.
As he makes his way home to Mallorca, the police also want to meet with Finn about his father's death and questions about the way he was found surface. To further complicate things, the new wife, Ruensa, has her 27 year old daughter, Roze, also living with her.
This was such an intriguing novel, with the backstory of Finn and Jess's childhood, the new wife and daughter and the circumstances around his father's death. As we go on, the author weaves a deceptive story that really makes you question almost all of the characters. This one did get a little unhinged towards the end but it was another enjoyable novel by the author.
As he makes his way home to Mallorca, the police also want to meet with Finn about his father's death and questions about the way he was found surface. To further complicate things, the new wife, Ruensa, has her 27 year old daughter, Roze, also living with her.
This was such an intriguing novel, with the backstory of Finn and Jess's childhood, the new wife and daughter and the circumstances around his father's death. As we go on, the author weaves a deceptive story that really makes you question almost all of the characters. This one did get a little unhinged towards the end but it was another enjoyable novel by the author.
September 27, 2023
He is my favorite writer. I didn’t like the end of this book as much as I liked some of his previous stories but it is still a fascinating book that as always i have finished in a breaking record time. I look forward to the next one.
February 9, 2024
It didn't wow me as some of her other books did, I think it shows that when there is an element of doubt its hard to overcome that but I'm sure each reader will make their own judgement xxx
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2024
Really enjoyed this one - interesting ending? Wasn’t really the direction I thought it would take but the book in general was a perfect holiday binge read.
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