The Secret Mistress: A heart-stopping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist

by Ellie Monago

Our first mistake was trusting him. Our second was underestimating how far we would both go to hide our own dark secrets…

Before my husband Corey died, I thought we were the perfect couple. So when a woman claiming to have been his mistress shows up on my doorstep with a child she says is his, I know she must be lying. Who is she and what does she want?

She says she has proof of the affair. That adultery is only the beginning of the crimes my husband committed. The room starts spinning as I realize I was married to a stranger.

His mistress threatens to destroy me if I don’t give her what she wants. But we have both done things we wouldn’t want anyone to know about. If our secrets were discovered, it would be the end of us. But if she tells, I tell…

And someone will have to die before this is over…

An utterly addictive thriller that will have you gasping out loud! Perfect for fans of The Perfect Marriage, The Wife Between Us and The Wives.

Readers can’t get enough of The Secret Mistress:

“Wow what a rollercoaster of a ride this book was, I loved it so much I was gripped from start to finish.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Holy Moley!… Told at a head spinning pace, the twists and surprises will keep readers gasping til the end.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow! Sit down and hold on for the ride!… Perfect… I was hooked from the first page and blown away wow!” Arcreviews_by_m, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“What a roller coaster!… Kept me glued to the edge of my seat.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow!… Kept me wanting more! My jaw was on the floor with that twist!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Readers love Ellie

“Wow!!!… had me hook, line and sinker… the hair on my arms was standing on end and my heart was pounding… Page-turner… One of the most gripping, unputdownable, nerve-wracking… books that I have EVER read!!!… Kept me on the edge of my seat… Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!!” Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Gripping… Filled with twists and turns… Hooked from start to finish… Jaw-dropping twists… Prepare to be on the edge of your seat until the very end.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Ellie Monago is the pen name of a novelist and practicing therapist. She’s also a wife and mother, and when you add it all up, she doesn’t wind up with much time for hobbies. But she’s an avid tennis fan, a passionate reader of both fiction and nonfiction—especially memoir (nothing’s as juicy as the truth!)—and she relishes a good craft cocktail. She spent most of her life living in the U.S. and now resides in Western Canada with her family.

Reviews

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was no real point or twist to this book just a very repetitive and pointless story

[Ahmed Ismail · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read Ellie Monago. The Secret Mistress starts off with a really strong premise, and I was hooked from the very first pages. Written beside the book title is a promise of "a heart-stopping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist." However, I'm afraid the book fell flat for me, and it wasn't heart-stopping nor jaw-dropping. The book is so slow, and it got really repetitive. I kept pushing through thinking things would get better, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. It wasn't gripping enough for me. The ending was rushed and incomplete.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 #𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 #𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

It definitely is not a case of happy families when Maren discovers that her deceased husband had been having an affair for years and fathered a little boy. Maren meet Jade. And Tai.

Maren is torn between her desire to have nothing to do with Jade and her growing feelings for the four-year-old Tai. However, her feelings are not born of kindness; in fact, her actions reveal the opposite. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Jade has an agenda, and both women are at odds. The wife. The mistress.

Secrets and lies run deep, presenting a strong emotional story. Both Maren and Jade are interesting protagonists. The story begins slowly but builds in intensity. Meanwhile, there is a surprising twist that breaks away from the growing drama between Maren and Jade. Having read three previous books by Ellie Monago, I knew that I’d be in for a great ride and that definitely was the case with this latest novel.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greedy and grasping describes most of the main characters!
What this novel has is a very twisted story line, avaricious characters, lots of deception, and backstabbing galore.
I loved it because it kept me guessing who was going to blackmail whom next.
Keep your enemies at bay but what about if some of your worst enemies are cloaked as the most trustworthy people?!
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your spouse dies suddenly, it is difficult to grasp this and you need time to deal with the grief. What you can miss as a toothache is that suddenly his mistress is at your door with their love baby.  The further the story progresses, the more we learn what people can hide. Even the people you trusted 100% and for whom you would go through the fire turn out to disappoint and have cheated on you;

As soon as the book starts, it becomes clear that someone was playing dirty. I like stories written from different perspectives and where the characters have quite a few secrets; This increases the tension because you want to know how everything fits together and this is of course accompanied by surprising revelations. Both ladies fight for what they want and everything is allowed in love and war. One of them will eventually win, right ...?

You can love someone very much, but when you discover the person behind the facade, this love can disappear like snow in the sun.

It is sometimes difficult to understand how people can behave so meanly and clearly think only of themselves, simply because they can.

Dark, shocking and emotional are three things that immediately come to mind when I describe this book. 5 stars

Thank you

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SECRET MISTRESS BY ELLIE MONAGO.
Release day is today the 10th of June 2025.
Oh this one was very interesting.
Multiple Povs and so easy to follow along with.
I'm looking forward to seeing what other books this author has out

[Jonna Sherock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Book

I was hooked from the very minute I started to read this book.So many twists and turns. Will read more by this author.

[Kelly Mannion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still torn with my rating, unsure whether I should be giving it 3 or 4 stars. When reading it I thought 3, then from 60% in I thought 4 but now that I've had a couple of days to think about it after finishing I've settled with a 3 and I'm hoping this doesn't seem harsh as I DID enjoy this.

The story is straight to the point from page 1 which was good in a way but I was concerned that without a bit of build up, the majority of the book would be dragged on a bit. In a way i was correct although from 60% in, that was when I became gripped. I love a book that's told from different characters points of view, without there being too many which can complicate things. This was great because it was told from 2 women's points of view and literally every chapter my opinion would change. One minute I liked one, thought one was nuts, then the other one was too bitchy and I felt sorry for the other one. I was like this till the very end.

There were some twists and surprises that made me need to continue to find out what was next. Towards the end when I thought the book was done there was yet another surprise tat left me hanging.

I'm left with some unanswered questions but it is possible this was the authors intention as I'm now sat here thinking about the story and things that happened in it and trying to imagine what would or could have happened.

I'd happily recommend this book to others. A nice easy read and I'm looking forward to checking out more of the author's work.

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 ⭐⭐💫

The description promised “a heart-stopping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist.” Unfortunately, the only jaw-dropping moment I had was realizing how meeh the story ended up feeling.

The plot? Very intriguing. A grieving widow, a sudden knock on the door from a woman claiming to be her late husband’s mistress... with a child 😱, no less. It had all the ingredients of a juicy, twist-filled domestic suspense. The beginning showed some promise and I was ready to be hooked.

But then… it just circled. Repeated thoughts, little forward momentum and revelations that felt more like small stumbles than gasp-worthy shocks. I kept waiting for the big twist or shift that never quite landed.

That said, I did feel for Jade and Maren: two women caught in the emotional wreckage left behind by Corey. Both were vulnerable in different ways, and honestly, both deserve healing and a clean break from the chaos. One wants money, one wants a child, and somewhere in there, things got a little too bananas for me.

On paper, this story had real potential. For readers who enjoy slow-burn domestic drama and emotionally complicated characters, it may still hit the spot. But if you're looking for something truly twisty and tension-filled, this one might not quite hit the mark.

📚 ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very surprised by the amount of four and five star reviews for this book. I was intrigued and excited by the plot. After reading this book, I feel my experience does not match up to those four and five star ones. The Secret Mistress by Ellie Monago felt like a repetitive experience. From the beginning, I kept seeing the same patterns: Jade’s constant desire for money, and Maren’s struggle to find a sense of purpose. I tried to convince myself that there was more depth to the story, expecting some big twist, like Cory not actually being dead or Maren discovering she wasn’t really the wife. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. What you see is exactly what you get: two women hurt by the same man. The ending was also a letdown, feeling rushed and incomplete. Overall, the book didn’t quite live up to expectations. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the book says A Heart Stopping Psychological Thriller with a Jaw Dropping Twist, you would expect a high standard in the book. But unfortunately, I didn't really think that this was a heart stopping thriller.

Before her husband's death, Maren and her husband Corey seemed to be a picture perfect couple. But after Corey's death, Maren's life suddenly turned upside down when a woman named Jade comes to Maren with her son Tai who she claims as Corey's son. Jade wants money while Maren, who has been struggling with motherhood is desperately looking to have a child. This is a story of two women, both affected by Corey and how they fight for what they actually want.

The story started out strong. I did really have high expectation for this book as the story started out interesting, intriguing and strong. A woman is widowed and another woman claiming to be her husband's mistress comes to the doorstep with her husband's son. Both Maren and Jade have their own agenda--Jade wanted Maren to give her and her son a part of Corey's estate and wealth. Maren meanwhile believes Jade is not fit to be a mother and is determined to get Tai as her own child. However, by the middle of the book, the story started out getting repetitive and boring. There wasn't OMG moment in the book, which I really did expect from the book. As a reader you might feel sympathetic towards both the main characters but then couldn't help that these mentioned incidents in the book might not really happen in real life. Overall, the ending seemed rushed and confusing in my opinion.

Overall, this book is only worth 3.5 stars. Although this book wasn't as great as I thought, I am looking forward to read more from this author.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

[Emily Plansinis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Mistress had a great premise - a thriller about a secret mistress that comes forward after a husband's death claiming a child was his, a story riddled with secrets on both sides. I was completely sucked in at the description, I LOVE these kinds of stories. From page 1, the plot immediately dove right in....and then that was really the only action for a long time. It was the same storyline for chapters upon chapters upon chapters with a decision that could have been "solved" in way less pages. By the time the twists started coming, I had gotten so annoyed at the repetition that they didn't hit as hard. The POV switches between the two main characters almost every chapter so I found myself forgetting what chapter and having to turn back a few pages I was on because the author used a lot of "I" and "she said" sentences. I thought the more interesting storyline could have focused around the husband's death with a secret mistress rolled into that, not the death as a minor storyline.

Overall, this could be a fun, quick read for someone looking for a storyline about a man leading a double life with a secret mistress and its repercussions after his death. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit the mark for me.

Thank you to Ellie Monago, Bookouture, and NetGalley for eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Mvm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Mistress starts off with a really strong premise—a woman’s husband dies suddenly, and not long after, his mistress shows up claiming to have their child. That shock alone hooks you in, and as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that no one is being totally honest. Everyone has something to hide, and even the closest relationships are harboring deep deceptions and secrets.

The main characters, Maren and Jade, are both complicated and not particularly easy to root for. Each is driven by their own motives, and they both bend the truth when it suits them. The beginning of the book is gripping, but it slows down for a while before picking up again in the second half. There are a few good twists and the theme of betrayal runs deep. The narrative twists and turns, blurring the lines between heroism and villainy, keeping readers guessing until the end.

The ending felt rushed—I would’ve liked more time spent wrapping things up. Overall, it's a messy, drama-filled story about secrets, lies, and what people are willing to do when pushed. An intriguing read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Monago and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Mistress by Ellie Monago is a slow burn domestic suspense that explores the themes of secrets, lies, and betrayal.

Maren and her husband Corey seem to have a perfect life together. When Corey dies, Maren's world is shaken when a woman named Jade approaches her claiming to be Corey's mistress and that her son Tai is Corey's. At first Maren is adamant that this woman must be a fraud. But as the story progresses we realize that both Maren and Jade both have their own secrets to hide.

The beginning of this story is gripping and sucked me right in to the premise. I love a good "mistress" trope and I thought that this had potential, but it just didn't land the way I wanted it to. I felt like after the first couple of chapters the story became a bit repetitive. It slows way down and the action doesn't pick up until after 60% of the way through the book. There are a cold of good twists but not anything wildly unpredictable. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a slow burn domestic thriller with emotionally complicated characters!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellie Monago, and Bookouture for this ARC! Publication date: June 10th 2025.

[NYCityGirlReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the first five pages, and the best part is the characters flip constantly between hero and villain, and I found myself sympathizing with Maren even when she was at her “worst.” The book has a similar trope to some of my favorite thrillers and actually reminded me of Jennifer Garners series “The Last Thing He Told Me” based on the book by Laura Dave. It instantly makes me wonder what life would be like if you found out entire life wasn’t what you thought it was and how you would behave?

The characters are well formed and fascinaiating. The ending wasn’t a total flip, but I wasn’t disappointed because so many twists and turns occurred in the book and I will absolutely read any other books I can get my hands on my Ellie Monago.

Ellie Monago was a new author to me and I received this ARC from NetGally and really appreciate the opportunity to read it and review. I read this on a plane and actually got off the plane nearly last to finish it! I immediately downloaded The Divorce series by Ellie on Amazon which is free with KU.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a woman discovers that the husband that she is grieving after the loss of her perfect relationship was not only cheating on her, but had a child with another woman, she is shocked to the core.

When that woman shows up on her door step with her beautiful child the last thing, the wife expects is to become embroiled in their lives. But how can she resist, after her husband fathered this child having denied her the opportunity to have her own baby?

Dark, and at times borderline obsessive, this is a story about how people find out how much they don't know about those closest to them. The characters are well drawn and the story line gripping, with plenty of twists and turns. With this book, Ellie Monago reminded me again why she is an auto read for me!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this book fell right in the middle with "3" stars. I felt like while the beginning of the booked grabbed a hold of me right the start. There are several twists that got me as well. However, it became repetitive and predictable. It felt like it took longer than it should have to make a point. I do like the plot overall. A mistress, a double life, dark secrets, and lies. Who doesn't love that in a good thriller? The chapters were short which always make it feel like you are making great progress within the book as well. However, this one just felt as if it dragged a bit for me.
I would still recommend this thriller to anyone who enjoys a quick read with a great plot behind it.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc for an honest review.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story full of terrible people. Suspenseful but also kinda frustrating. Maren is trying to grieve but then Jade turns up. Clearly a gold-digger trying her luck. It all feels a little cat and mouse with them all being losers in the end. I felt sorry for Maren but also annoyed at her weakness. She tries to portray herself as having it all together and knowing what she's doing but ultimately she's a flake!

This is a slow-burn that switches between the two main characters. The switch is easy to follow which helps. I was annoyed by the women as both were quite weak and I'm not sure either really had anything in mind but their own needs. All very selfish! I did feel sorry for Emmanuel and felt he deserved better. His wife was the clear voice of reason.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jade turns up claiming to be the mistress of Maren’s late husband she is shocked. Especially as the other woman has a child in tow. Could this really be true or are there secrets that both are hiding?

I liked the premise of this and felt like it would be an interesting read. It started good enough and I was intrigued to see where it would go, however it soon became a bit predictable and felt like it took a long time for it to get anywhere. I was hoping for a big twist which I found didn’t really materialise. Even though this wasn’t a favourite of mine, it was still a solid enough, intriguing thriller and quick easy read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was a good easy read with short chapters. However I did feel that it dragged a little bit before the plot really started to get going.

The book is told from a dual POV of the two FMCs, they tell a great story and can make you feel sorry for them one moment and make you believe they are crazy the next.

There are a few plot twists that I did not see coming at all and it had me wanting to turn the page to see what was coming next.

I would recommend this book to others looking for an easy thriller to enjoy and follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this arc in return for an honest review.

[Deana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by Ellie Monago. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, yet I’m not sure I would call this a psychological thriller. The book is written from two perspectives - the wife/widow and the mistress. I enjoyed the different perspectives as little secrets were revealed along the way. Both women are fighting for what they want…it was hard to like either character. One seemed a bit soft and the other hard as nails. In the end, there was a final twist that I really didn’t see coming which wrapped up the story nicely. I would definitely read another book by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this ARC.

[JL Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from the perspectives of Maris, the widow, and Jade, the mistress, the story twists and winds around their tumultuous relationship as the two women who loved the same man. The problem I found was that I couldn’t make myself really like either of them, and I did try, which made it difficult to feel emotionally invested in either.

I thought a few times that I had it all worked out, only to be surprised by the next twist. This dark and moody thriller kept me up later than I planned but I’m not complaining. I enjoyed this read which I am happy to recommend. I gave the Secret Mistress, by Ellie Monago, four stars and look forward to reading more of her work.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my third read by this author and it's absolutely not going to be the last...Monago knows her stuff and how to engage her readers.

Still grieving the recent loss of husband Corey, Maren finds herself drawn into a nightmare of secrets, lies and deception as her life and the memories of her husband are tarnished forever.

It's a pacey read that's told from the POV of Maren and 'mistress' Jade. The twists got twisty and the suspense had me hanging.

Unreliable narrators are always a win and their unlikeabilty just added an extra layer of doubt.

I was hooked, sold and had to binge it immediately!

Enjoyable.

[Jessica Chiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The suspense! With the sudden passing of Maren's husband, Jade brings a shocking secret. The character development is spot on. It's clear each woman is fighting for what they believe is right but you often find yourself debating which woman is genuine. It's so easy to be empathetic to both women up to the shocking end.

The ending felt a bit rushed. I would have loved to see a bit more there. Overall, a suspenseful, entertaining read. Check it out on publication day June 10th!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Secret Mistress. The colors on the cover made me look twice, BEAUTIFUL COVER! This was a crazy plot, Maren was unstoppable and obsessed! I liked Jade and also Emmanuel, both were good characters even if I didn’t agree with what Jade did, I felt for her. Never understood how Corey died, that was a loose part of the book. I Loved the ending, perfect!

[Alison Steventon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hands down, one of the best books I've ever read. This was truly one of those books that I could hardly put down, even when it was time to start dinner. It keeps you hanging for sure! I am still not quite sure what to make of the end of the book though. I guess you are supposed to draw your own conclusions. Either that, or it leaves it wide open for a sequel to this engaging book. Whew!

[Jessica Kronfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. The entire time my mind was debating if Maren or Jade were unhinged and Tai was just caught in the middle. Without a doubt though it's clear Corey sucked. I did not expect the twists at the end of the book. I really enjoyed the book and will be looking for more books from this author.

[Ruba Abu Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a roller coaster!

I’ve had mixed feelings about this book, but there’s no denying it kept me glued to the edge of my seat.

The dual POV was convincing, and the inner monologue was brilliant. The twists threw me for a loop, and I kept second-guessing myself as to which characters I could (or couldn’t?) trust.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Mistress by Ellie Monago was a psychological thriller, and I really enjoyed it, it did take me a while to get into it. But, then bang i could not put this book down, it became interesting with lots of twists and turns. I ended up reading it to the early hours of the morning. The ending was very good.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

[Thewhittlelibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, this book started off interesting & I was enjoying it, but then it honestly was just too repetitive & there weren’t any “twists” that were major or even shocking. Just two women wronged by a shitty guy, & a poor 4 year old gets caught in the crosshairs. Nothing revolutionary, but it was a quick read. I’m sure I’ll forget about it before tomorrow lol 🤷🏼‍♀️