The Night Before Christmas: A completely compelling, twist-filled psychological thrille

by Maria Frankland

It was all happy families. Until she arrived…

As the car pulls up to my husband Dominic’s family home the night before Christmas, I suppress a shudder. I’ve never felt welcome here. His parents make it clear I’m a poor comparison to his perfect first wife, Carla. But I’m determined to lean into the festive cheer.

Until Dominic’s mother bustles into our bedroom and blindsides me: ‘You won’t mind, will you. Carla is coming for the holidays. She’s still one of the family, and she can’t get home because of the storm.’ My eyes widen – did she and Carla plan this on purpose? I know Dominic won’t stand up to his parents. Apart from marrying me, I guess – with my past, I wasn’t exactly what his family wanted. But then I see the smallest hint of satisfaction cross his face. Did he know about this too?

When Carla arrives, arms laden with presents, her beautiful smile doesn’t fool me. And with the howling snowstorm promising days of ice-white isolation, we’re stuck here. And it’s quickly clear that not only does she want Dominic back, she wants me gone. Forever…

But while we sip mulled wine and unwrap our gifts, carols merrily playing in the background, I hide a secret smile. None of them know that I’m far, far tougher than they give me credit for. I’ve survived before. And if I have to, I would kill to survive again, even if it is Christmas…

This tense, twisted and utterly gripping festive psychological thriller is filled with deadly family secrets hiding in plain sight. Perfect for fans of Daniel Hurst, The Housemaid and Lisa Jewell.

Genres: Thriller, Christmas, Fiction, Audiobook, Psychological Thriller, Mystery

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2024

About the author

Maria Frankland has a dubious internet search history and a very worried mother-in-law. However, neither of these things can stop her writing gripping psychological thrillers in which you’ll never find a happy-ever-after.

Her novels are mostly set in Yorkshire where you’ll hear the accent through all her characters. These are people you could live next door to, or closer still… don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Maria’s novels are fast-paced, down to earth and realistic. You never know what’s around the corner…

Find out more about Maria at https://www.mariafrankland.co.uk. Whilst you’re there, you can download your free novella – The Brother-in-Law.

Reviews

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newlyweds Natalia and Dominic are heading to his parent’s house for Christmas. Driving in the horrible snowstorm was already making Natalie nervous, but she’s also nervous because Roger and Ann-Marie are very wealthy, very snooty and very unwelcoming. Dominic’s ex-wife, Carla, is a stunning lawyer who makes a ton of money and has a good amount of power. Now that he’s married to a nail technician, his parents are less than impressed by the woman he’s picked for his second wife.

They get there, and Natalie gets a cold reception, before they are shocked by the news that Carla will be spending Christmas with them. The storm they’d driven up in has left trains out of commission, and Carla was going to have to sleep in her office until she was invited by Dominic’s parents. Natalie can’t help but notice how much kinder her husband’s parents are to his ex, and that she already had a pile of presents under the tree - but this was supposed to be a last minute invitation made out of desperation?

Then Natalie also notices the family, minus her, keep whispering behind closed doors. Why is her husband whispering with his ex? Why was his ex yelling at his parents? Why is her new husband being a jerk to her, ignoring her when she’s all alone in this strange house? When Carla tells Natalie to be careful and not trust this family, her antenna really goes up. Why is she there celebrating Christmas with them if they aren’t to be trusted?

The first part of the book was written from Natalie’s point-of-view, then it flips and the second part is from Carla’s. This book is full of twists - a lot has happened in the past, a lot is going on in the present, and by the end, it’s the future of the characters that’s in question. This was quite suspenseful and a lot of fun to read! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Maria Frankland and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ex-Wife is a fast paced thriller that makes you not want an ex-wife in your life! Lol This has me hooked from the first page and I could not put it down. Just when I thought I had the ending figured out, she threw a great twist thrown in among many other twists throughout the whole book. I loved it! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

[Kate Cedras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the show at this was written, the pace at which the story goes and that I was never bored and felt excited to know what was going to happen next!

Such a fun thriller to read and worth the rec!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fun arc!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family Drama at its finest!

That was a lot to unpack! From the very beginning, I thought Natalie was being way too nice! Not just to her in-laws, but even to her husband’s ex-wife. I couldn’t imagine being forced to spend my first Christmas as a newly married couple with such disliked in-laws and the new husband’s ex in the mix. The tension was already thick, but I knew something strange was going on with this entire family… I just didn’t realize how deep the deception truly ran.

The narrator did a great job bringing those tension filled moments to life, especially as the eerie things escalated. The slow burn of suspicion, the uncomfortable family interactions, and the unraveling secrets all came together perfectly!

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting bulb made me think this could be one thing but I was blown away by how wrong I was A interesting well paced full of action twisty thriller. The pov were full of emotion and really emphasised thr important of looking beyond what you think uou see. The characters were complex and the story twists and turns were unexpected. The pacing made me care about tge 2 two leading characters. I found myself really hating the in-laws especially as the action intensified. It was totally believable although extreme. Noone rrully knows what lengths they will go to protect the ones they love. The ending was justified if a tad predictable. I throughly enjoyed this from start to finish. It felt a quick read as it was so hard yo pit down. I was gripped highly recommended fir anyone who enjoys a good mystery thriller full of teists and turns.
Thank uou so much netgallery and publisher and author for this 5 star read.

[Jennifer Bendel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great Christmas thriller. Natalie is spending the holidays with her in-laws and her husband’s ex wife in the middle of a snowstorm. What could possibly go wrong? Everything. This book was predictable but I enjoyed it anyways. It’s the perfect read for the holidays and it’ll make you appreciate your in laws (hopefully!)

[Donna Mallery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always seek out Maria’s books when she has them available! And thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed the storyline and shenanigans of the in-laws. I read it in a day. The action moved the reading pace nicely! It’s crazy the lengths that some people will go through. And poor Natalie had so many past and present problems that I couldn’t help feeling sorry for her! The only problem I had was the ending. I didn’t care for it. And even if I did, I felt that it ended too abruptly. The book would have been much better if the last chapter had been left out. However, I still enjoyed the book very much!

[Kathy Brackin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The evil family 🎄😳

[Soma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I enjoyed it.
It’s a quick thriller that you can easily get sucked into and the ending is surprising.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

His Ex-Wife by Maria Franklin, it isn’t bad enough that Natalie has to spend Christmas with her snooty in-laws but soon after arriving learns that her husband ex Carly is coming for Christmas. Natalie owns her own nail salon but isn’t deemed suitable for the Elmers. This doesn’t stop Natalie from pathetically trying to get their approval she tries not to view Carly as a rival but when catching her husband Dom and Carly in a playful moment then later on finding them arguing doesn’t help her insecurities at all.
Not to mention the knowing glances her in-laws direct at everyone except her. She believes her only ally in the house is her husband Dominic and sister-in-law Sophie and the cherry on top is that there is a severe blizzard outside and no one there can leave something Natalie is going to eventually risk her life trying to do. This is a twisty convoluted duplicitous family and unfortunately Natalie SmackDab in the middle of it and wants out. Soon instead of their approval she’ll just want to get away but that is going to be harder than she thinks. Despite not liking Natalie in the beginning by the end I was really rooting for her Maria Franklin is an author who whose books I’ve read since her biography and haven’t missed one yet I love her books and this one is definitely a great example of why it is a book I definitely recommend an absolutely enjoyed. #NetGalley, #Bookoucher, #MariaFranklin, #HisEx-wife,

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller and am a huge fan of this author.

Natalie has been married to Dominque for just over a year and in the worst weather conditions are off to spend Christmas with Dominque’s parents Anne Marie and Roger. But unbeknown to Natalie, Dominque’s parents have also told his ex-wife Carla that she can also stay as the weather is so bad and they do not want her having to spend Christmas in her office.

Natalie is about to experience a very uneasy time, and her life will be absolutely uprooted by what will go in this house. However not all is what it seems, and this is when the book really takes off. Dominque’s parents absolutely love Carla and are extremely unhappy that Dominque and Carla are no longer together, but we get a sense there is more to this than just wishing their son had married a different woman.

Natalie also has strong fears about this woman and is sure she is trying to undermine her and her relationship with her husband, but she is also not a mouse and is going to fight to keep what is hers.

There is so much tension and suspense in this book. Many secrets which will be revealed that will keep you on the edge of our seat, I read the book in one sitting. I am not going o say anything more than pick this book up and read it, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC!

[Amber Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4.5 ⭐️ - I was not expecting this one to be as good as It was. Multiple twists to the story and a completely new plot.

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twists keep on coming and there is a lot to unpack in these pages. I figured out pretty early on who the bad actors were going to be, but it was so much fun (????) to sit back and watch this all play out. There were plenty of characters to despise and lots of details to unravel. Tighten your seatbelts, kids. It's gonna be a bumpy ride!!

[Neus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a twisty thriller, and His Ex-Wife did not disappoint at all. The story begins with Dominic and Natalie on their way to Dominic’s parents for Christmas. If Nat had any hopes of maybe leaving early and enjoying time alone with her new husband, they were all buried under a thick layer of snow. Of course, the in-laws had to be insufferable, snobbish and openly hostile to their son’s new wife. And, to top it all off, Carla is here to spend the holidays with them too. Carla is Dominic’s ex-wife, and she’s everything Dominic’s parents wanted for him and more. Sofie’s there too. She’s Dominic’s sister, and she’s meant to be the nice, accepting one in the family.

There was a point in the story when I hated the guts of everyone in this house. Anne-Marie and Roger were like Emily and Richard Gilmore stripped of any remnants of a good quality. I knew that Dominic was a bit sus, but I thought he just was a mama’s manchild. I could not understand why Carla was even there. If she wanted her ex-husband back, surely there were other (possibly, most likely, better) ways than showing off in front of the new wife. Sofie was sitting on the fence, pleasing everybody and nobody. A friend to all is a friend to none, remember my words. And Nat was too eager to please… Ugh, girl, shut up and drink your wine.

I can’t say this was a slow burn. The tension started straight away. There were locked doors, side stares, and many questions and secrets floating in the air from chapter one. Everyone was hiding something. There is a big opportunity for the reader to come to conclusions very early on, which is a terrible mistake I always make. I was thinking the story was going in one obvious direction, but it went absolutely sideways.

The book is divided into two parts, the first part is narrated by Nat and the second by Carla. I think it was very clever to start with Nat’s point of view. She’s the new girl, the outsider, and her way of interpreting things might not be the closest to the truth. As I said, reach no conclusions here! Carla’s point of view dragged a bit at the end, but the last chapter is so good that all is forgiven. A love story to family ties and learned behaviours, if I must.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a tension-filled thriller that hooks you up from the very beginning, you’re in for a treat with His Ex-Wife.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a lot of people, Christmas is their favorite time of the year. For me, it isn't; I don't like all that, often, fake behaviour of people you never see during the rest of the year, but who would hug and kiss you like you are their best friends. For me, it's just another day and honestly I am counting the hours until that one is finally over.

For me, it was never fun having to spend it with the in laws.  I could feel every emotion Natalie felt too. But thank God I never had to deal with an ex-wife to top it all.

Sometimes when you try to be on your best behaviour, things go wrong or did someone try to sabotage you? 

You are happy you have at least one ally and that gives you the strength to get through the weekend. Well, that's the plan....

I hope you will enjoy 'driving down' the winding road the author has set for her readers as much as I did. Be ready to be surprised. :) 

I could not put it down, so there was only thing thing for me to do: read it in one sitting. 5 stars

Thank you

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
His Ex-Wife is a cleverly twisty read.
Maria Frankland can be hit or miss for me but this one was definitely a hit.
Natalie and her husband Dominic are attending his family’s Christmas celebration in their beautiful home The Elms.
His parents Roger and Ann-Marie have also invited his ex wife the glamorous Carla.
His sister Sophie arrives as well.
The event is snowed in and no one can go anywhere.
Natalie does her best to mingle but soon incidents happen and they point to Carla as the culprit.
Secrets begin to surface in this family and as she eavesdrops on conversations she believes that his parents want him to get back with Carla.
As the festive atmosphere continues, Natalie thinks she could be in danger…..
After reading the blurb, I was keen to get into it.
I devoured each chapter, quite excited to see where it would end up.
Plenty of surprises and a smart ending.
A fast paced and enjoyable read.

[Eva Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+⭐
His Ex-Wife by Maria Frankland is a crazy psychological thriller packed with never-ending actions... Holly cow! I mean Oh Wow!
My heart was pounding so hard that I could hear it!
I was into this story straight away and chapter by chapter it was getting harder and crazier!
Seriously, this is a must-read thriller for sure!
The action happens in the present with some small memory flashbacks. It's so easy to follow the storyline and we have questions after questions of What the hell is going on? And then BOM! And there is no way back...

Dominic and Natalie will spend Christmas in Domenics parent's home. This would be absolutely fine if Dominic's ex-wife Carla was not invited! Now Natalie must deal with his parents and ex-wife and looks like nothing works in Natalie's favour! But no one expected that things would go out of hand and someone's life would be in danger...

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for this copy!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Ex-Wife: by Maria Franklin
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is another super fun psychological thriller from this great author!!
Natalie and her husband go to the in-laws house for Christmas and Natalie quickly finds out that her husband’s ex-wife is staying for the holidays too! With bad weather outside, no one has the option to leave. Lots of craziness ensues in the house! The story is very suspenseful and intense! There are so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and I was shocked for a good part of the story!

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc copy of this super exciting book!
*This book comes out October 23rd. Grab your copy!*

[Charleen Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Net Galley for the ARC! I wasn't expecting the ending at all! This book was filled with alot of twist and turns, and it had me guessing the whole time! Natalie married Dominic and was stuck spending their first Christmas with his family and ex-wife Carla during a snow storm. Natalie discovers that not everything is perfect between this family and the ex-wife as it seems. There are a lot of secrets to reveal, and also, her marriage may not be as perfect as she thought.

[A.J. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Ex-Wife is another page-turner from Maria Frankland. Natalie and Dominic are driving in a snowstorm to his parent’s house for Christmas. When they arrive, Dominic’s ex-wife, is there. But worse still – she is staying because, due to the weather, there are no trains. What situation could warrant more tension? His Ex-Wife is told by the two wife’s POV and is full of twists and turns. Go get your copy now!

[Zoe Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dominic and new wife Natalie arrive at his parents home for Christmas to discover his ex wife Carla will also be joining them. This a domestic thriller full of tension and left me wondering who the good guys were.

[Jaime Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up
Not very thrilling or psychological, but i did enjoy it. Felt very average and predictable.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, fast read, do not go by my dates, I read on the kindle at bedtime and it takes me quite a while since I only get a few pages in before I fall asleep! But this would have been a fast read had I been reading in book form.

[Ashley Shirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That got intense—and the ending totally surprised me.

[Rosie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read #KindleUnlimited 😉

[Brooke Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had great pacing and an interesting story. I did guess what was going to happen but it was still fun to read. I would for sure recommend

[Mel Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would!

[Rach Fordham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down. Such a page turner.