Should I believe the woman who ruined my life, or protect the husband who's already betrayed me?
I walk past rows of immaculate white roses into the Kane family's picture-perfect home, thinking that I'd never guess what's happened behind closed doors. The woman standing with my colleagues in handcuffs looks so innocent in her blue, silk dress. But they say she's killed her husband.
When I see her face, I recognise her immediately. Lb>She's my own husband Bradley's mistress...
She was found beside the body with blood on her hands. But in a quiet voice, with tears streaming down her face, she says Bradley was the one who did it.
A chill goes down my spine. I've hated this woman since the day I saw her through the window of that little Parisian restaurant, holding hands with Bradley. I know my husband wouldn't kill anyone. He's a good father, a respected lawyer... But then, I never thought he'd have an affair.
She mustn't share her theories with anyone else. As the cop working the case, I need to make her trust me, and only me.
Because she and Bradley thought they could lie to me. But one of them is a murderer. And they have no idea how far I'll go to keep my children safe...
Completely unputdownable from the first jaw-dropping chapter to the final, unbelievable twist. An unforgettable psychological thriller from multi-million-copy bestseller Willow Rose, perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Silent Patient.
Willow Rose is a multi-million-copy best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 100 novels.
Several of her books have reached the top 10 of ALL books on Amazon in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books all over the world.
She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.
Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming. That's why her fans call her The Queen of Scream.
Willow lives on Florida's Space Coast. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
4 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Bookouture for the ARC & Bookouture Audio for the ALC via NetGalley! 💌
Y’ALL. Imagine being a detective, walking into a murder scene… and the prime suspect is your husband’s MISTRESS. Oh, and she’s blaming YOUR husband for the crime. Sounds like a fever dream, right? WHEW. This book was DRAMA from page one!
🔪 THE PLOT: Darcy White is a detective, and she’s good at her job. But when she’s called to a murder scene and realizes the suspect is Charlotte—the woman her husband, Bradley, has been CHEATING on her with—things get messy. Charlotte swears up and down that Bradley is the real killer, and suddenly Darcy is stuck between being a detective and a scorned wife. Can she trust the man who betrayed her? Or is Charlotte setting her up for an even bigger lie?
💣 WHAT WORKED FOR ME: 🔥 Unputdownable—I DEVOURED this. Short, fast chapters kept me flipping pages like a madwoman. 🎭 Dual POV—Getting inside both Darcy and Charlotte’s heads? Chef’s kiss. So much tension! 💃 SO MUCH DRAMA—Infidelity, murder, betrayal, secrets on top of secrets… LOVED IT. 🎧 Great audiobook narration—Lauryn Allman & Barbara Barnes did a solid job bringing these messy characters to life!
🤔 WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER: 📖 A bit predictable—Not all the twists shocked me, but I was still entertained! ⏳ Dragged a little at the end—The final stretch could have been tighter.
Overall, this was a juicy, binge-worthy thriller with all the soap opera-level drama I LIVE FOR. Messy characters, tangled lies, and a whole lot of betrayal. If you love thrillers where no one is innocent and everyone has something to hide, add this to your TBR!
🔥 READ IF YOU LIKE: ✅ Domestic thrillers with cheating spouses & murder ✅ Fast, addictive reads with jaw-dropping secrets ✅ Morally grey women making BAD decisions
Twisted and full of suspicion, deception, and betrayal describe this fast-paced thriller. The narrators, Lauryn Allman and Barbara Barnes, masterfully bring the characters to life. I was constantly questioning who to believe in this clever story of murder and deceit. The lines between victim and villain are blurred as the story unfolds. There were countless shocking twists I never saw coming. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
This was a quick read and easy to follow thriller. The narrator did a decent job with the characters especially since some of the writing, especially internal dialogue, was stilted. Detective Darcy White is called to the murder of a man found with his wife standing above him with blood on her hands. Darcy knows she should pass this case off to someone else because that wife is the woman sleeping with her husband. While I didn’t find this one particularly twisty I did enjoy it. The chapters alternated between Darcy and the mistress, Charlotte, and I liked that we got both perspectives. I’d give another one by this author a try, this would make good beach reads as they are quick to digest. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars which I rounded up because I enjoyed it enough to binge it.
A first read for me from Willow Rose, a quick and easy to follow mystery/detective story, we meet detective Darcy just as she embarks on her first homicide, a homicide that will completely upend her life and her family, as the victim is the husband of Darcy’s husband’s mistress.
Told from a dual pov Darcy and Charlotte, the mistress the story unfolds with shocking twists and turns. It did verge into the unbelievable from time to time, but that’s the power of fiction I guess 🤷🏻♀️
Great narration. 3.5 🌟
Huge thanks to Bookouture audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Intriguing read that kept my attention and made me want to stick with the story to figure out what was happening! This story has betrayal, several twists and unexpected revelations that keeps you engaged.
The story follows Darcy, as she tries to work through the complexities of forgiving her adulterous husband, Bradley. She is a detective and called on a case one day to investigate a murder, only to discover that the number one suspect is her husband’s mistress, Charlotte. Darcy knows that she should stay away from this case, but when Charlotte blames the crime on none other than Bradley, Darcy simply can’t stay away. Lines are crossed, webs are weaved as all parties involved make decisions they can’t come back from.
Great narration in this audiobook. The alternating points of view from Darcy & Charlotte was easy to follow & I enjoyed hearing their POVs in 1st person. Recommend for fans of domestic thrillers. Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.
Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My Husband’s Mistress is a mystery and detective tale. It’s fair and middling. Darcey’s husband, Bradley is having an affair with Charlotte. Then Charlotte’s husband, Edward is found dead. The detective put on the investigation is Darcey. As the case starts to unfold, secrets, lies and deception are uncovered. Who is telling the truth…. It’s a slow burn, predictable and there’s a couple of plot flaws. The police inquiry was unbelievable. The main character of Darcey makes dumb decisions and at times I thought she was an idiot. The twist was a bit anticlimactic. An ok read.
Once again I find myself wishing Goodreads allowed half stars. I enjoy Willow Rose and her writing. The only thing that held me back from a 4 star rating with this book was the seemingly never ending last hour and a half of the audiobook. I really only needed the last 2.5 chapters of all that as by that point I had figured out what was happening. Otherwise I enjoyed the audiobook. Charlotte’s voice was grating but that seemed to be done specifically for her character. A solid 3.5/5 stars for me. I received a ALC of this title. All opinions are my own.
I love the author's Detective Billie Ann Wilde series. She really knows how to create splendid books. Although this one is not part of the series, I was looking forward to reading this one. I love the cover and the title and that is always a very good start for me.
We meet detective Darcy who is called in to solve a murder. Suspect number one is his widow, but as she sees this woman, she recognizes her and when she interviews her, her world is on the verge of collapsing and she is torn in two...
This gripping thriller is packed to the brim with betrayal, deception and amazing twists that keep you turning pages late into the night.
You think you get to know the characters, but they all seem to hide a lot of secrets and this makes it impossible to decide who you can trust and who you have to steer clear of.
You feel for Darcy, but on the other hand I did not know what she was up to. Could I really trust her to do the right thing? And then everything clicks into place and the master plan is being set in action...
With its fast-paced storytelling i absolutely recommend this book. It keeps you guessing until the very last page. 5 stars for an amazing book that had me confused and changing my mind about 20 times. It did lot let me go so I finished it in one day.
3.5 stars rounded up. This kept my attention all of the way through and I enjoyed the dual POV. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable, but the train wreck was one in which I could not look away. 🤣 I enjoyed the audiobook, and felt the narration was great. I found a lot of the plot to be predictable and implausible, but I still thought this was an entertaining story. The ending felt like it could have been edited to be shorter; it seemed to go on and on, but it resolved cleanly and well. This was a solid mystery.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC!
I am currently reading and loving the Detective Billie Ann Wilde by this author, so I was excited to read this new thriller by her. Let me tell you...it did not disappoint! This was just the read that I needed. Based on the title alone, I thought I would know how this story would end. Boy was I wrong! Going into this book blind was the best thing I could've done.
Detective Darcy White is called to a murder scene and the victim's wife is the easy suspect. Darcy recognizes the woman immediately as her husband's mistress. Is the wife the murderer? Or is something deeper going on?
This story had some twists and turns that left my mouth open. The plot packs everything you want in a domestic thriller - deception, secrets, lies, and despicable characters. The twists were good and unexpected. I was left guessing right up to the very last page. I definitely recommend this one!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My Husband’s Mistress by Willow Rose will be published March 28, 2025.
This was my first book to read by Willow Rose and wow, I’m a fan! As someone who enjoys fast paced thrillers/mysteries, this book fell right into that category. We have Darcy who is a detective that is working a case that her husband’s mistress is involved in. This mistress and husband of course are unaware of Darcy’s involvement which keeps the story suspenseful and engaging. While I thought there were some moments of predictability, I still had a great time listening to the audio. The audio narration was done very well!
I generally like this author, but for me, this book is not her best work. The idea behind the story is intriguing, but it is not developed well. I found the pace slow. The scenes are confusing and unrealistic. I will read other Willow Rose books; this one is just not a favorite.
This is a great psychological thriller. Detective Darcey White is called out to a murder and can’t believe her eyes when she meets the victim’s wife. She is face to face with the woman who was having an affair with her husband, Bradley. Darcey keeps this information to herself but is shocked when Charlotte says her lover, Bradley, killed her husband. It’s a little bit unbelievable when Darcey is seemingly investigating this case on her own, and she manages to keep her connection to Charlotte to herself. Charlotte is also unaware that she is Bradley’s wife. This is a fast paced story with some great twists that I really liked. Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.
This is my first Willow Rose book and I found it easy, quick and gripping to the end. I loved the narration and dual point of view from detective Darcy and her husband’s mistress, Charlotte.
I thought it was a little too descriptive and repetitive in places with way too many metaphorical references but it definitely got better towards the end. Yes it was a little far fetched but it was entertaining with just enough twists and turns. Definitely worth a read!
What a page-turner! Detective Darcey White discovers that her husband is having an affair. He promises to change his ways but can she really trust him? Then she goes to investigate a murder and the prime suspect Charlotte, is her husband's mistress...but she says she didn't kill anyone. Instead she points the blame at Darcey's husband Bradley. Darcey will need to use her witty to figure out who is lying and who is telling her the truth. She knows she shouldn't keep the case, but she will go to any lengths to protect her family.
I like that the story is told through the eyes of Darcey and Charlotte as this added to the tension and drama. It is a quick read, that will have you hooked until the final page. I liked the short chapters and the pacing. It was like a reading soap opera as it had everything you'd expect, love, betrayal, secrets and lies! I really enjoyed the flawed characters and how the story came together. Some aspects I figured out but it was still entertaining and kept me invested until the final pages.
If you like a twisty thriller, this one is worth a read.
With thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy of the book to review.
This suspenseful story definitely unfolded in a slow burn, but it was important for the plot to unfold that way, so I wasn't mad about it. The dual narrator storyline enhanced it overall, in my opinion. There were definitely two different stories and it was important to know the perspectives of both the jilted lover and the adulteress. Oh, but their characters have so much more in store for the reader than those two roles. I didn't particularly care for any of them (as was likely the point) so it was hard to root for them or long for a certain ending. However, I do think Willow Rose (what a great author name) concluded the story with some important lessons as well as an unexpected twist, for sure. You won't be disappointed there. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
My Husband’s Mistress by Willow Rose was a wild ride. The story follows Darcy, a detective who gets caught up in a case that hits way too close to home. Her roles as a mother, wife, and detective constantly clash, making things messy in the very best way. And just when I thought I had it figured out… THAT TWIST. I did not see that coming.
The writing? Super descriptive in a way that made the emotions hit hard. Some phrases were so well done I had to stop and take them in. But the pacing was a little…off. Some parts dragged, and certain things didn’t make much sense, like why there was little to no oversight when it comes to the investigation. Also, I’m usually not into detective POVs, but I actually liked Darcy! Much more than the mistress.
Now, this ARC was the audiobook version. I wasn’t a fan of Charlotte’s voice. It just didn’t match what I pictured, and it completely pulled me out of the story. This is where I kept losing focus. Had to rewind a few times because I zoned out.
That being said, the ending made up for a lot! The last stretch had me locked in, and the twist was chef’s kiss. I’d recommend this one if you like slow-burn thrillers with a big payoff. Just a heads-up—there are some heavy themes briefly discussed and no TW so beware.
I’d definitely read another from Willow Rose and look forward to doing so!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for the book #MyHusbandsMistress by #WillowRose. This book is filled with adultery, lies and murder. How would you feel if you were called to your husband’s mistresses husband’s murder? As a cop, you have to do the right thing, as a scorned wife, you want to do something totally opposite. I have to get to the bottom of what happens and protect my kids. Could my husband have killed his mistresses husband? Do I really know him?
Willow Rose is one of my go to authors and I’ve really enjoyed previous reads but this one just wasn’t for me. Told from the points of view of the main characters Darcey and Charlotte. I found it to be an overly descriptive, dragged out plot with not much happening to the point I was fed up. I found the characters not overly likeable and if anything they got on my nerves. The police investigation was really unbelievable and just didn’t work. It got going somewhat for the last 1/4 of the read but it was underwhelming. Unfortunately not my favourite of this author.
2.5/5 🌟🌟/🌟
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #MyHusbandsMistress
This was my first time reading a book from Willow Rose and it certainly won’t be the last. I like thrillers that are swift, keep my attention, have different twists and don’t get overly complicated and this met all of my criteria.
I had started this before bed thinking I’ll listen for 30-40 minutes so I can settle down before bed. 2.5 hours later I was still holding on until sleep won out to no fault of the book!
I consumed the audiobook and the dual POV Narration was great. I think it made me like the book more than I would have had I read the print copy because it is overly wordy. The good quality narration also allowed me not to get hung up on the fact that the plot was highly implausible .
Lauryn Allman and Barbara Barnes were able to take me into the world the author was painting . They each handled the different voices with ease and made it more palatable since the characters weren’t too likable.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
This tiles comes out March 28, 2025
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it ⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
So I want to start out by saying I liked the story. It was a fun read that kept you guessing and the characters were pretty thought out. Why, then you ask, did I give it 2 stars? Well here’s the thing. The writing was just too verbose. So over the top that I almost stopped reading at multiple times. The imagery is there and I wanted to like the book so much, but I just couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was just too much. If overly verbose writing doesn’t bother you, then please read it, because like I said, it’s a good story. Just not for me.
Thanks to #BookourtueAudio and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I give this book a solid 4 stars and highly recommend to lovers of psychological thrillers.
“The woman standing with my colleagues in handcuffs looks so innocent in her blue, silk dress. But they say she’s killed her husband. When I see her face, I recognize her immediately. She’s my own husband Bradley’s mistress… She was found beside the body with blood on her hands. But in a quiet voice, with tears streaming down her face, she says Bradley was the one who did it.”
My Husband’s Mistress is the newest psychological thriller by Willow Rose, and my first read by this author. The book takes turns with narration between the main characters Detective Darcy and suspect Charlotte. The author did a great job with writing the book at a consistently fast tempo, drawing me in and keeping me engaged in the story. Many of the “you’ll never see the twists coming” books are disappointingly bland and with no real surprises in sight. I enjoy the unsuspected twists and turns of psychological thrillers, and this book definitely nailed it for me. I was left guessing with new surprises every chapter. Just when you think you have it figured out, something happens that makes you question everything up to that point. I did find the main characters to be generally unlikable, but I still couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I also appreciated the detective aspect of the story, making it a bit different than other thrillers I have recently read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Willow Rose for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
A really great idea for a story! You're a detective, on the job of a murder, when you meet the wife of the victim who is the woman your husband had been having an affair with. And she accuses your husband.
I found this story very interesting at the start, a crime focused thriller with a really cool concept, but as I read I struggled - it was more description than plot. The author is excellent at setting a scene, at describing the scenery around each character and the way they speak, look, and walk. But I found there too much description, not allowing much space for plot. And often superfluous descriptions of elements that are not relevant to the plot or characters (ie. a description of a store that the character drives past). If these were less frequent, I think it would be easier to look past, but the near constant descriptive language made these moments frustrating. A large amount of the descriptive language is self-reflection, monologue around the character's feelings, and thus feels repetitive.
I found all of the characters (except Carla!) to be frustrating, with very little substance. One of our Female Main Characters, our Detective White, is so clearly blinded by her personal connection to the case, it left me frustrated to leave. She seems clueless, and does very little police work towards this case - only taking one or two actions to actually solve what has happened.
(Semi-spoiler ahead)
I found myself frustrated with the ending. In first-person stories I find this sort of ending a cop-out. It doesn't make logical sense, when we as readers have been deeply entwined with the thoughts and decisions of a character, for a twist like this to occur. It was surprising, but more-so because it didn't make sense.
I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator an excellent choice for our main characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!
My Husband's Mistress by Willow Rose is a shocking detective mystery that draws readers into a web of lies, deception, and ulterior motives.
When Charlotte is found with blood on her hands and her dead husband next to her, Detective Darcy White knows that she should pass this case on to another detective. That's because Charlotte is Darcy's husband Bradley's mistress, and Charlotte is blaming Bradley for her husband's murder. Darcy knows all about the affair but she just can't relinquish control of this case. Who does she believe, her husband who is cheating on her? Or her husband's mistress?
This was such an intriguing read. The first half of the book is a bit of a slow burn but the action soon picks up and will have reader's racing towards the final twist. With a dual POV between Darcy and Charlotte, the readers will be able to uncover a myriad of hidden agendas, and secrets. Definitely recommend for readers wanting a mystery that keeps you guessing until the end!
Thank you to NetGalley, Willow Rose, and Bookouture for this ARC. Release date is March 28th 2025.
"My Husband’s Mistress" by Willow Rose is a slow moving 4-star read! There are two husbands and two wives—one is a police detective assigned to solve the murder, one is a mistress accused of the crime, one is a cheating husband, and one is the victim.
This is a slow burn, with the author’s writing being extremely detailed and, at times, overly wordy. The beginning was the toughest part, and I almost stopped reading, but I’m glad I stuck with it. While the story doesn’t have much action, it is well-executed, and I enjoyed the twists along the way. The final twist truly saved the book for me—I did not see that coming!
This was my first read by Willow Rose, but I plan to give her another chance. Now, I just need to decide which of her series to try next!
Thanks to Bookouture, Willow Rose, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
My Husband’s Mistress was such a suspenseful ride. The first half absolutely hooked me—I was flying through the pages and couldn’t put it down. It was fast-paced, full of tension, and had all the twists I love in a good psychological thriller. The short length made it even easier to binge, and it felt like one of those books you just want to finish in a single sitting.
That said, I did feel like the second half slowed down compared to the gripping start. The ending felt a bit drawn out, and I wished it had wrapped up with the same intensity it began with. Even so, the story kept me invested, and I enjoyed the alternating perspectives and the constant sense of not knowing who to trust.
Overall, a quick, suspenseful, and engaging read that kept me turning pages. I just wish the ending matched the momentum of the beginning, because the start was truly unputdownable.
My Husband’s Mistress is a fast paced edge of your seat thriller! There is so much anticipation and suspense. I definitely recommend this for anyone who is looking for a quick paced read full of twists.
I really enjoyed the story, pacing and narrator. I wanted to finish in one sitting but I had family come to visit to I had to put it down but couldn’t stop thinking about it as I was already halfway through! I just had to know what happened. I picked it back up the minute my family left 😹
Detective Darcey White has a problem. Her husband’s mistress’s husband has been murdered and Darcey is on the case. Will Darcey be able to keep her husband’s name clean? Will she find the true killer? And how will she deal with the widow, knowing it’s her husband’s mistress?
This was a very quick and easy read. It took some twists and turns throughout the book to keep me on my toes and engaged throughout. Told in duel POV, I had a hard time loving Darcey and Charlotte through their dialogue but ended up loving the ending. If you like thrillers, put this on your TBR.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity
My thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to this arc.
Who killed Edward Kane? Thats what Detective Darcy White must solve. HOWEVER, Darcy gets a big surprise when she goes to interview the victim s wife Charlotte and discovers she was the woman her husband was having an affair with. Book alternates between the pov s of the 2 women. But then pics surface of Darcy sleeping with Edward. Or did she?
I liked this. Good narration. Ending a bit underwhelming. Still enjoyed.