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The Wife's Silence

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She sits motionless in the corner, white-blonde hair framing her face like a halo, one finger tapping an endless rhythm on the leather armrest. 'This is Lucy,' Thomas says, gesturing to me. 'She's going to take care of you.' The tapping suddenly stops. Like a ballerina on a spindle, her head twists to meet my gaze, and her lips part into a silent scream.

Lucy Greer is at the end of her rope. Desperate to pick up the broken pieces of her life—and atone for past mistakes—she finds herself on the doorstep of successful entrepreneur, Thomas Caine, who has hired her to care for his ailing wife. But beneath the polished surface, something is terribly wrong.

It all began when the Caines' teenage son vanished years ago. The housekeeper has theories, the ex-wife has secrets. But Emilia, now trapped in her silent prison, knows the darkest truth of all. Now, with Lucy's help, the carefully constructed lies within this beautiful home are about to shatter.

A dark psychological thriller about deception, vengeance, and the mask we wear to hide the truth. The Wife's Silence will keep you guessing until the final page. Perfect for fans of Behind Her Eyes, The Silent Patient, and The Perfect Marriage.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2025

840 people are currently reading
986 people want to read

About the author

Amanda McKinney

37 books1,007 followers
Amanda McKinney is the Amazon Charts bestselling and multi-award-winning author of more than thirty romance and thriller novels. Her books have received over fifteen literary awards and nominations, including the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence, and have been included in lists such as POPSUGAR's 12 Best Romance Books, and featured on the Today Show.


Text AMANDABOOKS to 66866 to receive Amanda's newsletter and get the latest on new releases, promos, and freebies!

www.amandamckinneyauthor.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
Profile Image for Kaceey.
1,528 reviews4,597 followers
April 11, 2025
Amanda McKinney did it again! She delivered yet another unputdownable thriller!
Lucy is down on her luck, surviving day by day and living out of her car. So when an opportunity comes knocking, she’s sure it will be the answer to all her troubles.

She’s offered a job as a live-in caregiver for a woman incapacitated by a massive stroke. Lucy gladly accepts the position but quickly realizes there’s something quite odd going on in this house that’s just not adding up!

Hold onto your kindle and get ready for some big twists! Amanda McKinney is about to shock your world!

Amanda McKinney is quickly becoming a go-to author for me! I’m always keeping an eye out for what she’ll come up with next! I know I’ll be guaranteed a thrilling and twisty read!

Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley
Profile Image for Debra .
3,293 reviews36.5k followers
May 20, 2025
Gripping, shocking, thrilling and dramatic, Amanda McKinney delivered with The Wife's Silence! Coming in at under 300 pages, The Wife's Silence is a fast paced, page turner which kept me entertained and glued to the pages! Lucy Greer is desperate for a job and is overjoyed when Thomas Caine, a successful entrepreneur, hires her to care for Emilia, his wife who suffered a stroke and is mainly bedridden. It soon becomes apparent that things are not as they seem in this home.

This book is told in two timelines- one being when Emilia is younger and showcases her relationship with her husband, Thomas. The other timeline is in the present as Lucy has been hired to care for Emilia after her stroke. Just when I thought I knew where this book was headed, Amanda McKinney threw in a shocking twist! There were many twists, secrets, and lies in this roller coaster ride of a book. I enjoyed the pace, the tension, and the shocking revelations!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Profile Image for Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme).
886 reviews982 followers
June 8, 2025
Starting off with one of heck of a bang, The Wife’s Silence had me in the palm of Ms. McKinney’s talented hand. With a deep sense of foreboding, compelling characters, and a sinister feel, I quickly got pulled into the claustrophobia of it all. It’s no wonder that my friends with Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse loved this one, too. You see, alongside a plot that was as much a fast-paced thrill ride as it was an exploration of self-worth and survival, the atmosphere delivered a book that was beyond clever. And that’s before I even got to the twist to end all twists. Turning the plot on its head, it gave me a Freida McFadden vibe with a plot straight out of a B.A. Paris novel.

Then there were the characters. Told via multiple POVs, we were treated to a couple I grew to root for as well as one I just loved to hate. One big forewarning, however. Don’t trust a single one of them even the tiniest bit. Suspicious is an understatement when it comes to this small cast. Just the same, they all also felt wholly true-to-life thanks to the genuine dialogue and their well-developed personas. Altogether it made me fall into this book in no time at all as I became immersed in the short, cliffhanger chapters, which had me reading at speed. After all, there was no telling when the next shoe was going to drop with complete and utter shocking precision.

The only thing that bugged me even the teeniest bit was how almost sickly sweet the conclusion was. Ending with a soul-satisfying last chapter that maybe went just a bit too far, it didn’t fit in with the rest of the story in my humble opinion. Then again, it did wrap up everything with a nice, pretty little bow, so perhaps ignore my one gripe all things considered.

All said and done, though, Ms. McKinney has clearly done it yet again. With no end to the underhanded manipulations, gross betrayals, and unbridled deceit, not only were the characters tricked and cajoled, but I was thrilled to find that it also extended to the reader. In fact, I was so swept up by this one that I read it in one single sitting in only a matter of hours. Coming in at under 300 pages, it was a quick, easy read that had me losing all track of time. So if you’re looking for a binge-worthy read complete with palpable tension, head-snapping twists, and nonstop suspense, you don’t need to look any further as you’ve found it right here. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Lucy Greer is at the end of her rope. Desperate to pick up the broken pieces of her life—and atone for past mistakes—she finds herself on the doorstep of successful entrepreneur, Thomas Caine, who has hired her to care for his ailing wife. But beneath the polished surface, something is terribly wrong.

It all began when the Caines’ teenage son vanished years ago. The housekeeper has theories, the ex-wife has secrets. But Emilia, now trapped in her silent prison, knows the darkest truth of all. Now, with Lucy’s help, the carefully constructed lies within this beautiful home are about to shatter.

Thank you to Amanda McKinney, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for my physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: May 23, 2025

Content warning: suicide, controlling relationship, infidelity, emotional abuse, missing person, blackmail, withdrawal, drugging someone, mention of: gaslighting
Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,763 reviews2,327 followers
March 28, 2025
3.5 rounded up

Lucy Greer is down on her uppers and so she accepts the job offer from highly successful Thomas Caine to look after his wife Emilia, who has suffered a stroke. Lucy realises there’s something off about the situation from the start as Thomas didn’t go through the usual channels in order to employ a carer. Everything inside her screams danger from the moment she arrives at the huge show piece isolated mansion. The discoveries she makes in the house confirms her initial suspicions and the more time she spends with Emilia she knows there’s a big story here. Is this wife really silent or…? Lucy’s senses are on high alert but maybe Thomas’s are too.

This is a rollercoaster psychological thriller and a very engaging glide through read. You do have to suspend some disbelief, but it’s an entertaining journey. It’s fast paced, there’s plenty going on to keep your attention as you try to figure out the odd dynamics and power shifts. There are strange off key vibes from the start and warning bells that clang increasingly loudly. There is sadness and tragedy and herein lies a mystery to figure out. There are unpleasant behaviours from several characters that causes much tension and some hatred. There are plenty of twists but one big one isn’t too hard to figure out. It’s maybe resolved a bit too easily, it has the potential to sock between the eyes and it’s a pity that it didn’t do that.

Overall, this was this is a fun read and perfect for relaxing by the pool when summer finally arrives.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus).
2,659 reviews2,479 followers
May 26, 2025
EXCERPT: Mrs. Caine is nothing like I expected. The woman is shockingly beautiful. A natural beauty, fit for the cover of Vogue magazine. Her skin is porcelain with barely any wrinkles for a woman of her age. A delicate heart-shaped face is framed by a chin length bob of beautiful white hair. The hair is so white that, for a split second, I think I'm seeing her aura - an ability I haven't had for some time now. The biggest surprise, however, is the pair of big blue eyes that find mine instantly.

ABOUT 'THE WIFE'S SILENCE': She sits motionless in the corner, white-blonde hair framing her face like a halo, one finger tapping an endless rhythm on the leather armrest. 'This is Lucy,' Thomas says, gesturing to me. 'She's going to take care of you.' The tapping suddenly stops. Like a ballerina on a spindle, her head twists to meet my gaze, and her lips part into a silent scream.

Lucy Greer is at the end of her rope. Desperate to pick up the broken pieces of her life—and atone for past mistakes—she finds herself on the doorstep of successful entrepreneur, Thomas Caine, who has hired her to care for his ailing wife. But beneath the polished surface, something is terribly wrong.

It all began when the Caines' teenage son vanished years ago. The housekeeper has theories, the ex-wife has secrets. But Emilia, now trapped in her silent prison, knows the darkest truth of all. Now, with Lucy's help, the carefully constructed lies within this beautiful home are about to shatter.

MY THOUGHTS: The Wife's Silence is a quick and easy read, but I didn't find it particularly thrilling. I usually love a good narcissistic, manipulative character, but Thomas just didn't do it for me. He didn't come across as either realistic or well developed either. If someone doing what he is doing hired a new person to care for his wife, realistically I think he would have been keeping a much closer eye on them than what he does.

To be quite honest, none of the characters were very realistic or well developed. I connected with none of them. I wasn't shocked nor excited by any of the developments or 'twists'. I flipped the virtual pages, got to the end and thought, 'Oh, okay.'

I didn't dislike this read, but neither did I find much to recommend it. I have enjoyed this author's books in the past, but The Wife's Silence just didn't measure up.

One thing that really irritated me though, and publisher - please take note of this - The quote contained in the publicity blurb doesn't actually appear in the book.

⭐⭐.5

#TheWifesSilence #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Set in small, Southern towns, Amanda’s books are page-turning murder mysteries peppered with steamy romance. She lives in Arkansas with her handsome husband, two beautiful boys, and three obnoxious dogs.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Wife's Silence by Amanda McKinney for review. All opinions expressed in his review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Profile Image for EmG ReadsDaily.
1,637 reviews146 followers
December 31, 2025
An addictive thriller, featuring coercive control, vengeance, desperate choices, manipulation and so many secrets.

Told through multiple perspectives, and alternating timeframes. This story highlights the tumultuous relationship between Emilia and Thomas, through to the present-day where Lucy is hired to provide the 24-hour care that catatonic Emilia requires. However, behind the polished facade, all is not as it seems...

This fast-paced story offered many surprises, that kept me reading long into the night!

If you enjoy a rollercoaster read, similar to stories by Jeneva Rose, Freida McFadden or Kiersten Modglin, then definitely give this one a read!
Profile Image for Lauren Self (lauren.shelby.reads).
528 reviews50 followers
April 9, 2025
THE WIFE’S SILENCE pub date 05.23.25

Another win for Amanda McKinney. ☺️

This is the third thriller I’ve read from her and enjoyed them all- but this one is a favorite! Told in dual POV & dual timeline - you get Lucy’s story now, coming to work as a live-in nanny only to find out it’s for an adult woman (Emelia) who had a stroke, and Emelia before, as she details her tough relationship with her husband Thomas.

This book is so full of emotion that you can feel it. It’s powerful and will have you utterly gripped to the story. You can easily read this in one sitting. From page one I was hooked, and knew throughout that this would be a winner. I loved it. Fans of Verity, The Wife Upstairs, and The Silent Woman will love this.

4⭐️

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my ARC.
Profile Image for Corinna ⚓️ Reading At Sea.
89 reviews5 followers
May 26, 2025
The Wife’s Silence is a fast-paced, easy read that I finished in just one day. The writing flows smoothly, and the suspense builds in a way that makes it hard to put down.

One of the things I loved most was the use of multiple points of view and timelines. The alternating perspectives really added depth to the story and helped slowly unravel the mystery. Amanda McKinney did a great job creating a moody, atmospheric setting that kept me engaged the whole time.

There was also a twist I didn’t see coming—when it’s revealed that the woman was actually their son, it completely threw me. It was unexpected and added a really intriguing layer to the story.

While a few moments stretched believability, the overall plot and pacing kept me hooked. If you enjoy thrillers with dark family secrets, shifting timelines, and a big reveal, this one’s worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Erin Dunn.
Author 2 books104 followers
April 2, 2025
I’m calling it now, BEST PLOT TWIST OF 2025!!

The Wife’s Silence gripped me from page one! I had to keep reading and find out everything that was going on with Thomas, Emilia, and Lucy. I love thrillers like that, that keep you wanting to read until you reach the end and you just HAVE to find out all the answers!

Oh, and the answers are SO WORTH IT!! The plot twist a little over halfway through (well somewhere between halfway and three fourths the way though) caught me so off guard. I did NOT see that coming, I was so shocked!! I mean I literally gasped out loud while reading it at work and my co-worker friend was laughing at me. Haha! I looove that I was that surprised by the twist!

This book has everything I love in a thriller. It’s very well written, fast-paced, twisty, enthralling, a little dark, and a bit revengeful! Can I give it 6 out of 5 stars??

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released May 23, 2025.
Profile Image for Cherise Isabella.
421 reviews34 followers
April 10, 2025
I can not believe how quickly I flew through this book. Initially, when I first picked it up, I was just planning to read the first few chapters. However, the prologue was so enthralling that I ended up binging the entire thing.

This was so fast-paced. It was bingeable and so twisty. Immediately, you get a sense of dread that is lurking just beneath the surface, making it incredibly hard to look away from. I liked that the story was told through different POVs. It gave me an insight into our main characters, even the antagonist. It's always a plus for me to be able to get a perspective from the villain of the story.

The plot twist I didn't see coming at all. I figured it out when the characters did. We were clutching our pearls together, LOL. I really enjoyed this one. It's not just a thriller, but it's also a story about survival, betrayal, trauma, and, of course, revenge and vindication. If you're looking for a fast, twisty read. Look no further than The Wife's Silence out May 23rd, 2025!

Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and Amanda McKinney for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. <\u>
Profile Image for Hailey .
367 reviews81 followers
April 29, 2025
Thanks to my partners thriller book lovers the pulse; Amanda McKinney; Storm Publishing for the #gifted eARC.

Another amazing roller coaster ride of a novel from one of my favorite suspenseful thriller authors. A fast paced book with a ton of twists and turns I never saw coming.

Lucy: a down on her luck 40 year old single woman with no children, hired by the rich and illusive Thomas Caine to care for his bedridden wife Emilia who has suffered a stroke years prior. I don't want to give away any more information and it's best to go in blind. I'm just completely flabbergasted with how amazing this story was. I literally gasped out loud during some parts and left reeling in others. I give this all the stars and then some! A very amazing job well done, Amanda
Profile Image for April.
656 reviews180 followers
May 28, 2025
And the worst book husband award goes too… Thomas was the epitome of a narcissistic & gaslighting man. This story had soooo secrets, literally every single character had secrets! I enjoyed the multiple POVs between Lucy, Ameila & Thomas, that alternated between past and present! The story was well written, well balanced between characters and was very thoughtfully provoking.

Homeless, Lucy finds a caregiver job providing care for Amelia after suffering from a stroke. Lucy slowly begins to realize there is a lot more going on behind the walls of this home.

Overall a very enjoyable story, that domestic thriller fans will enjoy! The narration was great and really brought life to especially Lucy and the other POVs as well. This was my second book by Amanda McKenny and I have thoroughly enjoyed both! Thank you Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for this listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Professional Reader100 Book Reviews
Profile Image for Natalia Farnham.
342 reviews15 followers
May 28, 2025
Man this one was one wild ride! I always love a book with elements of the past and present weaved into the story. And when you do it well it makes it even better! It definitely has some twists so that’s always a plus when reading a domestic thriller. The author did a great job setting up the story and creating an air of unease throughout the story where you really don’t know how unhinged some characters might just be. This type of book makes me want to dive into all their other works and gets me excited to see if they are just as good!
Profile Image for Samantha (Reading_Against_Noise).
271 reviews9 followers
March 31, 2025
This might be the quickest I have ever read a thriller. This was so good! I was afraid this was going to be too similar to another popular book with a similar premise and I was very happy that it was not so. This is twisty enough to shock even the most avid thriller readers. I enjoyed the writing and look forward to reading more from Amanda McKinney.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this arc.
Profile Image for Lisa.
314 reviews48 followers
May 22, 2025
Amanda McKinney delivers another gripping psychological thriller with THE WIFE’S SILENCE. This one had me hooked from the beginning, thanks to her immersive writing style and the emotional depth of the characters—especially our protagonist, Emilia. You feel for Emilia, who is utterly trapped not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well, in a her horrid marriage to Thomas. Watching her story play out in our THEN chapters made for an intense, sympathetic read, where we learn the tragic lengths a husband will go to in order to wield his sick control over his family. Thomas is an antagonist whose vileness hides behind a facade of decency and respectability. And Lucy—her vehemence in defending Emilia and the role she plays in Emilia’s journey—added a deeply human element to the story that really grounded the suspense.

The pacing is steady and the atmosphere is unsettling in all the right places. Short chapters help move the plot along at a fabulous pace. There is also a mystery within a mystery in the book as we learn about the sudden disappearance of Emilia’s son, James. And that twist— brilliant, unanticipated, and completely caught me off guard. Wow!!

If you enjoy emotional thrillers with heart and edge, as well as a fabulous twist among twists, this is one to pick up. Another winner from Amanda McKinney!!

I want to thank NetGalley, Amanda McKinney, and Storm Publishing for gifting me the ARC of THE WIFE’S SILENCE! It was such a privilege to read this before publication. And I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!
Profile Image for Kelly (Little.shropshire.reader).
241 reviews28 followers
May 12, 2025
The second book of Amanda McKinney's that I've read. The previous being When I Disappear, which I absolutely loved. This one, however, didn't live up to my expectations.

The Wife's Silence is told from multiple points of view and has various plot threads to follow. At times, I did struggle to keep up with it all as there was a lot to remember.

I'm slightly confused by this story. I mean, I flew through it. It's short and pacy chapters kept me turning the page, but at the same time, some parts felt disjointed. It's like they were forgotten about, and suddenly brought up again.

I enjoyed the first half of this book, but as the plot progressed, it became a bit unbelievable and wild. The big reveals left me feeling underwhelmed and confused.

The story is full of unhinged characters all out for themselves, and lots of twists to keep you guessing.

Overall, this was an easy, fast-paced 'popcorn thriller ' to read. For the most part, I did enjoy it. You don't need to think too much about it, and if you don't mind the plot being on the unbelievable side, then this is certainly a book you'd like.

I would recommend you read When I Disappear by this author.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for my advanced copy.
Profile Image for Ahmed Ismail.
121 reviews73 followers
April 21, 2025
The Wife’s Silence completely pulled me in. I was hooked from the very first page. I’d definitely suggest going in blind. The story moves fast and is packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing the whole way through.

The story is layered with deception and vengeance, and it reminded me a lot of The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden—so if you liked that, you’ll love this. If you’re stuck in a reading slump, this one will snap you right out of it. I highly recommend it.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.
Profile Image for CarolinaBookBliss.
187 reviews28 followers
May 23, 2025
The Wife's Silence by Amanda McKinney
🌟🌟🌟 and a half.

A gripping thriller that's an easy, quick read. Despite its dark subject matter, it's a surprisingly relaxing read, thanks to the authors nicely written prose.
The character development is also well done, making it easy to become invested in the story. With some nice twists that keep you guessing, it's a great page turner.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Release Copy.
Publication date 23 may 2025
511 reviews4 followers
June 16, 2025
you know that feeling when you're hungry—like really hungry, but nothing in the fridge or pantry sounds good?

still, you have to eat, so you end up reheating that mystery container of something that's been sitting in the fridge a little too long—not because it's what you want, but because you need something to tide you over until you get what you really want?

that's this book.

none of my libby books were ready (sigh), so i wandered over to hoopla. i know, i know. i'm making hoopla the krystal to libby's in-n-out. okay, maybe it kinda is. but desperate times. and there it was: this book, instantly available, just sitting there like leftover rice.

it wasn't terrible. it did the job. i consumed it. but it wasn't satisfying. and i definitely wouldn't go back for seconds.

p.s. yes, i know—i just made another one of my book reviews into a food analogy...again! but what can i say? when i'm not thinking about books, i'm thinking about snacks.

p.p.s. apologies to krystal fans. i mean no disrespect. ✌️
Profile Image for Danielle B.
1,321 reviews215 followers
May 25, 2025
THE WIFE’S SILENCE is a gripping story from start to finish. I liked the multiple POV’S and dual timelines. It’s well blended with secrets and emotional suspense. This story was especially easy to follow on audiobook. I very much enjoyed that I didn’t have to think too much about it. Overall, it was just a very entertaining story!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Profile Image for Jayne.
1,051 reviews703 followers
May 26, 2025


No, no, no!

I can't keep silent about 'THE WIFE'S SILENCE".

BEWARE: This book requires a HUGE suspension of disbelief.

A husband hires a female caretaker to care for his silent, disabled wife.

Let the eye-rolling begin!

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Elise Roth.

Since the book unfolds from multiple POVs, the book would have benefited from multiple narrators.

One star, rounded up.

WHY?

The twist revealed in the middle of the book was clever.
Profile Image for Stephanielikesbooks.
720 reviews84 followers
April 17, 2025
An entertaining, twisty domestic suspense read. Told in then and now timelines, this was a quick, easy read.
There was an unexpected twist that stretched belief a bit but which added to the story. There was a satisying ending replete with karma which I enjoyed seeing!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Adrian Dooley.
512 reviews160 followers
April 10, 2025
Hugely enjoyable “trapped in” style thriller/mystery with some fantastically inventive twists, it tells the story of a woman down on her luck and living in her car hired by a wealthy man to look after his wife who had a major stroke and needs full time care. Severely disabled by the stroke, she lives in a near vegetative state.

But as Lucy, the carer moves in and begins her work, she senses straight away that things aren’t right. A look from Emilia the wife hints at her having more awareness than presumed and the husband Thomas gives off a near cold attitude to his wife, while also coming across as very controlling and guarded.

I had a great time reading this. The perfect length for an action packed and fun ride with great short chapters that kept things moving at lightning pace. These style of books can easily become repetitive but I’m glad to say that’s not the case here. In other hands this would probably be a 350 or 400 page book and it would be all the worse for it but the author here knew exactly what she wanted to say and the story she wanted to tell and resisted padding it out and it’s all the better for it.

Yes you do have to suspend disbelief at times but you are having such fun you don’t really care.

I had a blast reading this and the author is now definitely on my radar.

Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Profile Image for Heather Flaherty.
1,053 reviews4 followers
May 28, 2025
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the book #TheWifesSilence by #AmandaMcKinney. I loved this book and could not put it down. Phenomenal. Lucy is down on her luck and living in her vehicle so when a job for a live in care person opens up, she jumps on it. Now she is caring for Emilia, wife to Thomas Caine. Their son, James went missing many years ago and nobody knows what happened to him. Now, Emilia is stuck in her silent world after a stroke. Lucy is determined to help Emilia get better and back on her feet. What happens next will blow your mind.
Profile Image for Cordelia.
295 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2025
SYNOPSIS
-Lucy Greer is desperate for a fresh start and lands a job as a live-in caretaker for Emilia Caine, a wealthy woman who’s bedridden and unable to speak after a stroke.
-The house is gorgeous, but something feels off from the start.
-Emilia’s teenage son disappeared years ago, and the mystery still lingers.
-Everyone in the house—Thomas (the husband), the housekeeper, even the ex-wife—seems to be hiding something.
-Emilia might know the truth…but she can’t say a word.
——
MY THOUGHTS
-This one takes a huge suspension of disbelief. Like, don’t ask too many questions or the plot kind of crumbles.
-I love short chapters, and so I liked this aspect of the book. Super easy to fly through.
-But…it was just really predictable. I saw the twists coming a mile away.
-The ending didn’t hit for me. It felt underwhelming.
-It had potential, but didn’t do much to stand out in a genre that’s already packed with similar stories. If you read a lot of thrillers, this one might feel like a blend of ones you’ve already read, but without the punch.
-Not terrible, but definitely forgettable.
—-
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️A quick read with short chapters, but nothing new for fan of the genre. Predictable plot, flat ending, and you’ll need to suspend reality a bit too much.
—-
Thanks: Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on May 23, 2025.
Profile Image for Bolt Reads.
317 reviews14 followers
May 28, 2025
This book was cruising toward a 5-star review. Windows down, wind in its hair, thriller vibes at full throttle. And then—BAM! It hit the twist. Not a fun, jaw-dropping twist. Oh no. This one was more like a deer in the headlights meets a brick wall.

The moment that twist dropped, two stars fell off my review like loose hubcaps. Not only was it so far-fetched it needed a passport and a space suit, but it brought the entire story to a screeching halt. I kept going, hoping it would find its way again, but instead, it got weirder and slower until I wasn’t sure if I was reading a thriller or watching a soap opera written during a caffeine crash.

That said, the audiobook narrator, Elise Roth, deserves a gold medal and maybe a spa day. She was phenomenal—the MVP who somehow made this literary U-turn feel smooth. If anything kept this from becoming a full-blown DNF, it was her.

Bottom line: if you pick up The Wife’s Silence, don’t just suspend disbelief—toss it into a black hole and wave goodbye. You’ll need zero gravity to float past that twist.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Jackie.
1,371 reviews
May 21, 2025
An addicting & bingeable read!! Every Amanda McKinney novel I’ve read has sucked me in, kept me engaged throughout, and has left me completely satisfied.

I devoured this dark psychological thriller. It had all the elements of a gripping thriller-deception, vengeance, and the mask we wear to hide the truth. The Wife’s Silence followed Lucy who was at the rock bottom and desperate to pick up the pieces of her broken life. She was hired by a successful entrepreneur, Thomas, to care for his ailing wife, Emilia. But there was something wrong beneath the polished surface. Years ago, a teenage boy vanished leaving many questions as to what happened to him and why Emilia was trapped in silence.

McKinney skillfully delivered a clever plot with well developed characters. I loved how this story was told through multiple perspectives. It allowed for a deeper understanding of the characters motivations, feelings, and the deceit they faced. This story also alternated between two different timelines, then and now. This exposed the connections between the characters and events while providing a deeper understanding for the characters; more specifically, one could see how past events shaped the characters' present actions and motivations. Additionally, the back-and-forth between timelines created a sense of mystery and suspense. I loved having to constantly question each characters motive and watch how their behaviors evolved over time.

Overall, Amanda McKinney continues to be one of my favorite authors in the psychological mystery-thriller genre. The Wife’s Silence was another solid 4 star utterly addictive psychological thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Samantha (bookstasamm).
1,020 reviews86 followers
May 28, 2025
Lucy Greer takes a job caring for the ailing wife of a wealthy man—only to uncover dark secrets tied to the disappearance of the family’s son years earlier. As buried truths surface, Lucy finds herself entangled in a chilling web of lies that someone will do anything to protect.

When I pick up an Amanda McKinney book, I know I’m in for a wild ride of twists and dark secrets—and The Wife’s Silence delivered all that and more. From the very first page, I was hooked by the chilling atmosphere surrounding the Caine household, where every detail felt steeped in unease and every character seemed to be hiding something. Emilia’s silent, haunting presence added an eerie tension that lingered throughout the story, and the mystery of the couple’s missing son layered on even more intrigue.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story veered in directions I never saw coming. Some twists I anticipated, but others left me genuinely stunned.

This is a gripping, shadowy tale that kept me turning pages late into the night! If you love psychological thrillers with a touch of the gothic, you won’t want to miss it.

Thank you Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Zoe Reads.
691 reviews40 followers
January 12, 2026
Lucy has had a rough time recently, she’s excited to be starting her new job, she will be a live in carer for a lady who suffered a massive stroke and is now incapacitated. The lady is Mrs Emilia Caine, and we have her pov chapters for ‘then’ while Lucy’s chapters play out in the ‘now’.

Things don’t add up for Lucy, she knows she isn’t being told everything and when she discovers the Caines’ 17 year old son went missing twenty years ago, she knows this house and Thomas Caine are hiding secrets.

Thomas is the kind of character you want to scream through the pages at, from the beginning he was unlikeable and I was rooting for Lucy to uncover every juicy piece of information she could on him.

I read Amanda Mckinneys ‘Marriage of Lies’ back in 2024 so was delighted to be approved for an advanced copy of this and will definitely read more of her work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author.
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