The Unseen Wife

Barren Pines

by Kate Bold

“This is an excellent book… When you start reading, be sure you don’t have to wake up early!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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In the impeccable suburb of Barren Pines, uniform houses and manicured lawns conceal the imperfect truths and deadly secrets of its residents' lives.

Lila Lawson's covert affair with the town's adored fitness trainer ends in tragedy when his sudden death leaves the community reeling—and Lila suspecting foul play.

As she delves into the mystery, she must also confront the sinister murmurs painting her as a woman scorned, capable of deadly deeds.

With each step closer to the truth, Lila must navigate a labyrinth of lies and face the possibility that her love might not have been an accident. But in Barren Pines, nothing is as suffocating as silence—or as dangerous as the truth.


THE UNSEEN WIFE (BARREN BOOK 2) is the second book in a thrilling new psychological suspense series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestseller NOT NOW (a free download) has received over 600 five star ratings and reviews.

Future books in the series are also available!

“This book moved very fast and every page was exciting. Plenty of dialogue, you absolutely love the characters, and you were rooting for the good guy throughout the whole story… I look forward to reading the next in the series.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“Kate did an amazing job on this book and I was hooked from the first chapter!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I really enjoyed this book. The characters were authentic, and I see the bad guys as something we hear about daily on the news... Looking forward to book 2.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This was a really good book. The main characters were real, flawed and human. The story went along quickly and wasn't mired in too many unnecessary details. I really enjoyed it.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Alexa Chase is headstrong, impatient, but most of all brave with a capital B. She never, repeat never, backs down until the bad guys are put where they belong. Clearly five stars!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“Captivating and riveting serial murder with a twist of the macabre… Very well done.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“WOW what a great read! Talk about a diabolical killer! Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading others by this author as well.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Page turner for sure. Great characters and relationships. I got into the middle of this story and couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to more from Kate Bold.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“Hard to put down. It has an excellent plot and has the right amount of suspense. I really enjoyed this book.

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks, Thriller

149 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2024

About the author

Bestselling author Kate Bold is author of the ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising eight books (and counting); of the HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising ten books (and counting); of the KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting). Kate loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.kateboldauthor.com to join the mailing list, receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

BOOKS BY KATE BOLD

EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER

IN HIS BLOOD (Book #1)

IN HIS SIGHTS (Book #2)

IN HIS REACH (Book #3)

IN HIS MIND (Book #4)

IN HIS WAY (Book #5)

(and counting)

KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER

LAST BREATH (Book #1)

LAST CHANCE (Book #2)

LAST WISH (Book #3)

LAST SHOT (Book #4)

LAST MISTAKE (Book #5)

(and counting)

HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER

NOWHERE SAFE (Book #1)

NOWHERE LEFT (Book #2)

NOWHERE TO RUN (Book #3)

NOWHERE LIKE THIS (Book #4)

NOWHERE GIRL (Book #5)

NOWHERE TO HIDE (Book #6)

NOWHERE CERTAIN (Book #7)

NOWHERE PURE (Book #8)

NOWHERE SOUND (Book #9)

NOWHERE SANE (Book #10)

(and counting)

CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER

NOT ME (Book #1)

NOT NOW (Book #2)

NOT WELL (Book #3)

NOT HER (Book #4)

NOT NORMAL (Book #5)

NOT AGAIN (Book #6)

NOT SAFE (Book #7)

NOT TODAY (Book #8)

(and counting)

ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER

THE KILLING GAME (Book #1)

THE KILLING TIDE (Book #2)

THE KILLING HOUR (Book #3)

THE KILLING POINT (Book #4)

THE KILLING FOG (Book #5)

THE KILLING PLACE (Book #6)

(and counting)

ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER

LET ME GO (Book #1)

LET ME OUT (Book #2)

LET ME LIVE (Book #3)

LET ME BREATHE (Book #4)

LET ME FORGET (Book #5)

LET ME ESCAPE (Book #6)

(and counting)

Reviews

[Alisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the melodrama of a made for tv movie with the matching unlikable, unconvincing main character. Skip it.

[Eloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts well but becomes tedious

The first half of this book grabs you, but then it becomes repetitive to the max. The main character comes off as a fool. She is determined to solve a likely murder. Her means of investigation is to confront anyone and ask them if they did it.

[Elizabeth R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled through

Didn’t really enjoy this book. The writing style bothered me. Too many similes, too slow moving. It’s like the writer was more concerned about the writing than the story.

[Cidney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lila Lawson is a fitness trainer at a gym in Barren Pines, she's recently divorced her husband Daniel who is someone you don't really want to marry, one of those who like to be in control and you don't count. Lila has met heart throb Rick with whom she is carrying out secret meet ups and this time it's the locker room of the gym. She thinks she's found her beau but he's reluctant to take her to his place or meet anywhere in public. Girls we know that means don't we! Then the next morning after another one of their furtive couplings in the locker room, her boss calls her into the office and tells her that Rick is dead, he fell off his bicycle whilst cycling in the mountains.

At his funeral a few days later (it takes just a few days in America? Not weeks, or even months in some cases in the UK, this is clearly the place to die if relatives would prefer a quick burial then, probably much cheaper too, I'm digressing now, sorry), so at the funeral Meredith Caldwell, the wife Rick divorced, and at the do after the funeral rumours were swirling around the room that Lila was having an affair with Rick, Lila was ignoring this as they were both divorced so nothing wrong there, although she was still unsure why she couldn't go to his place when he could come over to hers. (We know don't we!).

Lila is interviewed by the police next day and she realises that she is a person f interest to them in connection with his murder. The book lollops along and does get a bit tedious but does start picking up the pace again. Although why Lila should go about questioning people in the town looking for Rick's murderer and drawing attention to herself is quite beyond me. She does have an alibi in that her little brother has reappeared in her life and is staying with her. I kind of did see the ending coming but it wasn't that bad a book really.

[Jennifer Ferber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly this author chose to use the exact same outline for this book as with her first book The Unseen Neighbor. The writing is simple in both, but held my interest in the first one enough to be an okay book. However, while reading this one, it felt like the same book with the same town only a different character who has a different problem. The main character has a female friend who supports her along the way, same as the first, a strong male hero same as the first, and even ends almost exactly the same with the same circumstances.
I don't think I'll be continuing the series. They aren't bad books, I just feel like I've already read them.

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t hold my interest.

I read book 1 , and wasn’t thrilled with it but I thought I’d give book 2 a try to see if it was just that one disappointment. But nope, it was just one more book, not for me.

The story line was weak. And there was too much thinking about everything and not enough dialog. Page after page of thinking and examining herself.

I won’t be finishing the series.

[Glenda J Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and predictable,

Honestly I do not like saying negative things about author's hard work but that was one of the most boring books I have ever read I skimmed through it so fast because I hate not finishing books. The characters are not worth investing in and the plot even worse.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reasonably quick read. It does have a somewhat unusual heroine, who does some things that are not necessarily prudent, but she gets results mainly using her intuitive ability to determine if people are telling the truth, holding something back, or lying. It may not be the kind of novel that will keep readers up all night, but it does have a few interesting plot twists.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated PG
Clean

[Raina Hunt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drink every time you see the word “facade.” Except don’t, because you would die.

[Kathy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner!

I couldn't put it down. Had to finish it. I loved how the characters were developed and the surprising twists!! Want more.

[Jimekia Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This series is a gripping and captivating read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Experience the thrill and suspense as the story unfolds.

[Marquita Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun easy read

A quick read with characters that I really liked. Great for a beach book or reading by the fire place on a cold day