The Other Woman

by Betsy Reavley

A toxic friendship. A shattered marriage. A deadly secret . . . The author of Murder at the Book Club delivers a twisty domestic thriller.
When Cass walks into their lives, Lila and Owen are both bewitched by her charms. Cass is vibrant, confident, and everything Lila feels she no longer is. Soon, her influence begins to seep into every corner of their lives. Yet, as Cass grows closer to Lila, Owen, and her daughters, Lila's life begins to unravel.
Feeling she is on the outside of her own life, Lila confides in her oldest friend, Zara, but even she can't prevent the inevitable from happening. Before long, a bitter power struggle unfolds, fuelled by betrayal, secrets, and manipulation. Trust becomes a weapon as Lila's very sanity is pushed to its limits . . .
How far would you go to protect the life you've built for yourself?
For fans of The Housemaid, Magpie, and The Silent Patient comes a gripping psychological thriller about betrayal, obsession, and the fragile line between stability and madness.
Praise for Betsy Reavley
"A deliciously devilish whodunit!" —Robert Bryndza, bestselling author of the Kate Marshall Private Investigator series
"Will keep readers guessing till the very end!" —J.A. Baker, bestselling author of The Perfect Parents and The Other Mother

Genres: Psychological Thriller

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2025

About the author

Betsy Freeman Reavley is the author of Beneath the Watery Moon and A Worm in the Bottle. Carrion, her latest psychological thriller will be released in November 2014.
She was born in Hammersmith, London.
As a child she moved around frequently with her family, spending time in London, Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.
She showed a flair for literature and writing from a young age and had a particular interest in poetry, of which she was a prolific consumer and producer.
In her early twenties she moved to Oxford, where she would eventually meet her husband. During her time in Oxford her interests turned from poetry to novels and she began to develop her own unique style of psychological thriller.
Beneath the Watery Moon is Betsy Reavley’s beautifully written first release and tells the macabre story of a young woman battling against mental illness.
Beneath the Watery Moon is published by Not So Noble Books and is available as an eBook from Amazon.
Betsy Reavley's second novel Carrion is a psychological chiller that address the link between grief and mental illness.
Reavley says "I think people are at their most fascinating when they are faced with life's real horrors." This is what I love to write about.
Betsy Reavley currently lives in North London, with her husband 2 children, dog, cat and chickens. You can follow her on Twitter @BetsyReavley

Reviews

[Julie Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good psychological thriller.
Lila and Owen have a good relationship until Cass comes into their lives.
The story is told from several perspectives, and raises some questions as the story progresses.
Cass is manipulative and definitely knows what she wants and does all she can to take over Owen and Lila’s lives.
This is a bit of a slow burner but overall it's an enjoyable read.

[Susan Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tense thrilling read. Is Cass too good to be true ? She starts working at Owen's business, befriends his wife Lila and appears to be perfect. As the plot unfolds , Lila's life seems to unravel. I couldn't wait to reach the end to discover the outcome

[Emma Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows the downfall of Lila and Owen’s relationship once Cass becomes part of their lives. Told from several perspectives, Lila comes across as weak, as does Owen, and Cass is manipulative and does all she can to worm her way into Owen and Lila’s lives and marriage. I felt the start of the story was slow, I kind of had the character of “She” figured out early on but then changes in the narrative made me doubt my thoughts. But then slowly realised where the author was heading with it. Although slow to start it picked up pace and I found it an enjoyable read.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really dark thriller which draws you in, thinking you know who is good and who is bad.....but do you?
Owen and Lila have on the surface a solid marriage and working relationship, until Cass arrives for an interview and starts to worm her way into the couples lives, leading to the breakdown of their marriage.
Told from the 3's perspective, plus the shadowy SHE, this story leads down down one path, then has a fantastic twisty end.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a real page turner!
Thanks to Bloodhound books for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. We have Lila with a contented life supporting her husband with their business, when in comes Cass then nothing is the same again.
While this was relatively well paced, I did find myself becoming frustrated at some of the decisions Lila made.
There was a decent twist at the end and it was all wrapped up neatly.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC.

[Jillian Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was granted the opportunity to read and review this book by Bloodhound and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
At times it was somewhat predictable however it held my attention and it’s fair to say that I really enjoyed it.
Lila appears to be a weak woman who you could say lets her husband Owen fall to easily into the arms of his new colleague, Cass. However…
Cass is a sly, evil woman who only cares about herself and will do absolutely anything to get the riches and lifestyle she thinks she deserves.
It seems that Cass is going to win Owen, his money and get the life she craves but is Lila really the broken damaged mess she appears to be or has her childhood made her far more of a threat than she appears and what lengths is she willing to go to to win back her girls and her house and who will fall by the wayside or worse for Lila to succeed.
I’ll certainly be looking out for more books by Betsy because I really enjoyed this one.

[Jacqueline Moxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no denying that this is a gripping novel, that kept me guessing until the very end. Although it was obvious that Cass had deliberately wormed her way into Lila’s life, and was determined to enjoy her enviable life, the identity of She was mystifying. I kept changing my mind as the various clues were dropped, but I certainly didn’t guess the surprise ending. This is a book that filled me with dread. To some extent, I was afraid to read on and discover what would enfold. I felt desperately sorry for Lila, who appeared to be totally innocent and wronged, not just by her husband and Cass, but also by her own children, who seemed to unfairly blame her. Then, what was the role of Zara? Is she a kind and loyal friend or something much darker? This is definitely a page turner with twists and turns at every stage, and a final chapter that I had to read twice in order to ensure that I had fully understood what it revealed.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lila and Own are a relatively happy married couple but there are simmering tensions beneath the facade. Enter Cass, a new employee, who is everything Lila is not...confident, sassy but also conniving. Cass does everything in her power to take over Lila's life and snatch Owen away.
I feel as if I have read this story before, several times over...there's nothing new here. Lila was so gullible and couldn't see what was going on right in front of her nose. Owen also believes everything Cass feeds him. I was constantly thinking why do you believe everything she says? The amount of gaslighting that goes on in this book is unbelievable. I felt that the characters could have been written as having a bit more backbone and not taking everything at face value. The timeline seemed a bit off at several points during the book. The 'twist' at the end of the book wasn't really much of a twist and the ending a bit vague.

[Q.D. Purdu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, The Other Woman by Betsy Reavley is a mystery that leaves the reader guessing until the end. Yes, the narrative bares the impact of marital infidelity.
But beyond the novel’s plot, there’s a deeper truth: an adult’s carefully constructed life can be dismantled by his or her unhealed childhood wounds. Reading this novel may harken memories of What Happened to You by Bruce D. Perry, MD, Ph.D. and Oprah Winfrey.
Throughout the novel, Reavley braids in interludes of raw, insightful confessions. These interludes cite unspeakable acts, send chills through the reader, and raise the question: Who is truly the evil person and who is The Other Woman in this story?
Everyone should read The Other Woman. It’s richly textured, thought provoking, and mystifying.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betsy Reavley is a startlingly good writer. The plot is skillfully complex; the characterisation is sophisticated; and the author has created an atmosphere that will haunt the reader long after the final page.
The tone is satisfyingly dark, and smudged with the gothic influences of writers like Daphne du Maurier and novels as well-loved as 'Rebecca', 'My Cousin Rachel' and 'Don't Look Now'.
The author is adept at peeling back the skin to reveal a detailed anatomy of psychological motivation. This is an unsettling narrative in which every word has been carefully chosen, considered and placed.
This is an original and deeply compelling novel by an author who deserves to find her books in all the bestsellers lists.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a ride from beginning to end, you start reading the voice of the woman and try to attach it to one of the female protagonist of the book but you won't be able to guess it until you get the big revelation at the ending of the book, and oh, what a revelation it is.
In a world of emotional and physical deceive you want to have a friend to support you, but is the friend really good for you and helping you? A marriage that is dissolving, a supposed friend that just want your life, a childhood trauma that never got resolved, Is anybody in this story really the person that is showing the world to be?
This is a book that will grab you from the beginning until the shocking ending.

[Carolyn Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Other Woman” is a taut thriller full of unforgettable characters. Lila is a devoted wife and mother who has shaken off a difficult childhood to build a life dedicated to her family. Her problems seem like normal day to day stresses until Cass enters their lives. Soon Lila’s carefully constructed life begins to fall apart, but she struggles to understand her own role in their disintegrating family. Is Lila imagining it all? This book keeps you guessing with immersive scenes and layered characters. You’ll stay hooked until the end!

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book started well but then lost it's way. It focuses on Lila and Owen and the issues in their marriage and also their relationship with Cass. The characters were either weak, gullible or coniving - none of them endearing. I was constantly wondering how the others just believed the gas lighting undertaken by Cass.
I never really understood who "She" was and I'm still not entirely sure if I do as I felt the ending was not completely clear.
Thank you to Bloodhound books and my ARC copy of this novel, I'm just sorry that I'm not more positive

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Woman by Betsy Reavley was an excellent book with great twists and turns that will have you guessing till the very end I really enjoyed reading The Other Woman especially as it had great characters, with a great storyline.

Great Holiday read and I highly recommend it.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book drew me in from the beginning and didn't let go until the absolute last word. Intense emotional rollercoaster with a surprise ending is the best way of describing what you will feel as you read. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.

[Marisha M Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

page turner

This was a good read. It most definitely was a page turner for me. Owen was so blind to Cass manipulation and it made me mad. Off you read this book you won’t be disappointed.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was very interesting to say the least. I was totally not prepared for the ending! I really was pulling for Lila and the family. Great job Betsy!!!

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery book that keeps you guessing till the end. Well written with good characters and a good storyline. First book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. Well worth a read.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was told by different perspectives, one of which was a surprise and did get me in the end. It was an entertaining read. For me it was an easy read in one afternoon.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Fast paced and kept me wanting more. I loved the twist too

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Alyssa Fujimoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a bit to get into. But it did pick up the last couple chapters where everything came together. I would recommend this book.

[Alexandra Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty intense read. I liked the different view points. Gave you a good idea of what was going on but there were still a lot of shockers.

[Brontesrule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings: A dog is killed, a baby is killed, childhood neglect. gaslighting.

[Amber Delk · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, this book was just okay. Some parts didn’t really make sense, and the story felt a bit scattered. It had potential, but overall it didn’t come together the way I hoped it would.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tantalisingly slow building tension, Betsy Reavley pulls back the curtain and allows us to see the cracks behind Lila and Owen’s perfect family. The first chapter had me hooked, twisting and turning till the very end. I’m still not sure what to make of the ending.

[Alison Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sort of thought I had this book figured out as I was reading. I didn’t know who SHE was and that did keep the mystery. I felt the ending needed a little more explanation as although I think I know what it implied I’m not 100% sure. Safe to say I didn’t have the book figured out as I read! Hmmm… I do like psychological thrillers but this was maybe a bit too abstract?

[Eleanor Jordan O'Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read; although it felt a bit slow to get going at times. I also found the ending a little confusing, but that might not necessarily be the fault of the author as I do have a lot of brain fog at the moment! Overall, I enjoyed the read and will definitely keep an eye out for further releases.