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The Forgotten Wife
Trust is everything to me. It has to be, with a past like mine.
So when my fiancé lies straight to my face, it’s like I can’t breathe. He claims he barely knows Laura Blackwell. Then why has she sent him a copy of her novel with a chilling inscription? You’ll never get rid of me.
His face tells me everything. It’s like he’s seen a ghost.
Suddenly our beautiful home feels like a cage. When I’m alone, I can feel someone watching me through our floor-to-ceiling windows. Is it Laura? Or someone else from his past? All I know is my fiancé is desperate to hide the truth.
And his secrets could tear our lives apart…
An utterly unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us and The Perfect Marriage.
What readers are saying about books by Alex
‘This is the start of something special… prepare to fall in love with this new world and its darkly addictive pace.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was completely held hostage by my Kindle the whole way til the end.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Okay, wow! This book was just… whoosh! Mind blown… a masterclass in suspense. Gripping, intelligent and so compelling, I reread it the moment I finished. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I'm kind of fangirling right now. Honestly, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A tour de force.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I devoured this book in a day.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Dark, intelligent and absolutely relentless. From the first chilling chapter, the story pulls you into a dangerous web of lies, betrayal and secrets that refuse to stay buried. The tension is thick, the atmosphere ominous and the twists… genuinely shocking.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So when my fiancé lies straight to my face, it’s like I can’t breathe. He claims he barely knows Laura Blackwell. Then why has she sent him a copy of her novel with a chilling inscription? You’ll never get rid of me.
His face tells me everything. It’s like he’s seen a ghost.
Suddenly our beautiful home feels like a cage. When I’m alone, I can feel someone watching me through our floor-to-ceiling windows. Is it Laura? Or someone else from his past? All I know is my fiancé is desperate to hide the truth.
And his secrets could tear our lives apart…
An utterly unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us and The Perfect Marriage.
What readers are saying about books by Alex
‘This is the start of something special… prepare to fall in love with this new world and its darkly addictive pace.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was completely held hostage by my Kindle the whole way til the end.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Okay, wow! This book was just… whoosh! Mind blown… a masterclass in suspense. Gripping, intelligent and so compelling, I reread it the moment I finished. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I'm kind of fangirling right now. Honestly, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A tour de force.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I devoured this book in a day.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Dark, intelligent and absolutely relentless. From the first chilling chapter, the story pulls you into a dangerous web of lies, betrayal and secrets that refuse to stay buried. The tension is thick, the atmosphere ominous and the twists… genuinely shocking.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- GenresThriller
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2025
229 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
October 31, 2025
Holy Cow !
From the first pages, this book sets the pace.
I enjoy stories where you do not really know
who is good and who is evil. Having finished
the book, I’m not sure I am completely sure…
There is nothing more terrifying than when
you cannot see or hear or figure out who is
trying to kill you, and the Author did a good
job keeping the outcome from the reader.
I enjoy being surprised, and I enjoyed the
book.
My thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley
for the download copy of the book for review
purposes.
From the first pages, this book sets the pace.
I enjoy stories where you do not really know
who is good and who is evil. Having finished
the book, I’m not sure I am completely sure…
There is nothing more terrifying than when
you cannot see or hear or figure out who is
trying to kill you, and the Author did a good
job keeping the outcome from the reader.
I enjoy being surprised, and I enjoyed the
book.
My thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley
for the download copy of the book for review
purposes.
November 2, 2025
i read it in one day, full of twist and turns. Thank you to netgalley
November 6, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
There’s something unsettling about a story where even the narrator can’t be trusted — and that’s exactly what pulled me in. The Forgotten Wife delivered that uneasy, twisty feeling I look for in a psychological thriller, and I was hooked pretty quickly.
This was my first time reading a book by Alex Sigmore, and I genuinely enjoyed his writing style. It’s tense without being overdone, and he knows how to build suspense in a steady, creeping way. The memory-loss premise is one I’ve definitely seen before in this genre, but Sigmore made it feel fresh and engaging. I found myself second-guessing every character, every conversation, every hint of a memory returning — all the things that make a thriller like this so fun to get lost in.
Overall, this was a highly entertaining read that kept my attention from start to finish. I’m definitely curious to read more of Sigmore’s thrillers after this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my opinion.
There’s something unsettling about a story where even the narrator can’t be trusted — and that’s exactly what pulled me in. The Forgotten Wife delivered that uneasy, twisty feeling I look for in a psychological thriller, and I was hooked pretty quickly.
This was my first time reading a book by Alex Sigmore, and I genuinely enjoyed his writing style. It’s tense without being overdone, and he knows how to build suspense in a steady, creeping way. The memory-loss premise is one I’ve definitely seen before in this genre, but Sigmore made it feel fresh and engaging. I found myself second-guessing every character, every conversation, every hint of a memory returning — all the things that make a thriller like this so fun to get lost in.
Overall, this was a highly entertaining read that kept my attention from start to finish. I’m definitely curious to read more of Sigmore’s thrillers after this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my opinion.
December 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.
The Forgotten Wife begins with an incredibly strong and intriguing premise: a woman discovers a hand-delivered package addressed to her fiancé, containing a manuscript written by a wife she never knew existed. That setup immediately pulled me in and promised a gripping psychological thriller.
Unfortunately, the story never fully capitalizes on that potential.
As the plot progresses, the pacing becomes uneven and the narrative increasingly relies on coincidences that feel unrealistic rather than suspenseful. Important plot developments are rushed in some places and dragged out in others, which weakens the tension instead of building it. Characters behave in ways that don’t always feel believable, making it hard to stay emotionally invested.
By the time the story reaches its conclusion, the payoff feels underwhelming. The twists don’t land with the impact they’re clearly intended to have, and the overall resolution lacks clarity and satisfaction.
While the premise had the foundation for a compelling thriller, the execution didn’t work for me. Readers who enjoy high-concept domestic suspense may still find something to like here, but this ultimately fell short of expectations.
The Forgotten Wife begins with an incredibly strong and intriguing premise: a woman discovers a hand-delivered package addressed to her fiancé, containing a manuscript written by a wife she never knew existed. That setup immediately pulled me in and promised a gripping psychological thriller.
Unfortunately, the story never fully capitalizes on that potential.
As the plot progresses, the pacing becomes uneven and the narrative increasingly relies on coincidences that feel unrealistic rather than suspenseful. Important plot developments are rushed in some places and dragged out in others, which weakens the tension instead of building it. Characters behave in ways that don’t always feel believable, making it hard to stay emotionally invested.
By the time the story reaches its conclusion, the payoff feels underwhelming. The twists don’t land with the impact they’re clearly intended to have, and the overall resolution lacks clarity and satisfaction.
While the premise had the foundation for a compelling thriller, the execution didn’t work for me. Readers who enjoy high-concept domestic suspense may still find something to like here, but this ultimately fell short of expectations.
January 4, 2026
“The Forgotten Wife” uses atmosphere and tension to draw readers in. I could sense that something was off just below the surface throughout the story.
Thanks for the ARC courtesy of the author, Storm Publishing & NetGalley.
Sigmore explores the psychology of relationships, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves to get by. The intimacy makes the suspense even stronger.
I’m usually hard to impress with domestic thrillers since they often aren’t dark enough for my taste, but this one had some well-hidden secrets. This was my first book by Sigmore. They mostly write series, which I tend to avoid, but I might try a few of their standalones.
If you like domestic suspense with some emotional depth, this book is worth a try.
#TheForgottenWife #AlexSigmore #StormPublishing #NetGalley #CapCut #DomesticThriller #KU
Thanks for the ARC courtesy of the author, Storm Publishing & NetGalley.
Sigmore explores the psychology of relationships, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves to get by. The intimacy makes the suspense even stronger.
I’m usually hard to impress with domestic thrillers since they often aren’t dark enough for my taste, but this one had some well-hidden secrets. This was my first book by Sigmore. They mostly write series, which I tend to avoid, but I might try a few of their standalones.
If you like domestic suspense with some emotional depth, this book is worth a try.
#TheForgottenWife #AlexSigmore #StormPublishing #NetGalley #CapCut #DomesticThriller #KU
December 18, 2025
Winter is the happiest she’s ever been. Her business is thriving, she’s living in a gorgeous custom home, and she’s engaged to a sweet and kind man. Until one morning, a mysterious package is dropped off at their house, making her question everything she knows about the man she’s about to marry. Once Winter starts chasing the truth, she can’t stop until she knows everything, no matter the cost.
This twisty psychological thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing and story were great. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Thank you, @AlexSigmore and @StormBook_Co, for the advanced copy!
October 30, 2025
I loved this book about Winter and Fenton! He receives a book in the mail inscribed with, "You'll never get rid of me." Who does that, he thinks? Is it a threat or is it about the plot? It's another convoluted story that's fascinating at its core as it involves divorce, mistaken identity, and lies! I raced through it and was breathless at the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
December 30, 2025
40% in and couldn’t get into it. Nothing exciting was happening and it just felt flat :/
November 7, 2025
I like a psychological thriller, and The Forgotten Wife ticked a few boxes for me. It's fast paced, it's twisty, it's a little dark, and it's quite engaging. 💍
The story is mostly told from the perspective of the main protagonist, Winter, with some chapters from the POV of her fiancé Fenton. 💍
The forgotten wife of the title is Fenton's ex-wife, Laura Blackwell. This is a story of secrets and lies, of cover-ups, and of rich people who think money can make all problems disappear. 💍
At the risk of ruffling a few feathers, I have to admit to not liking Winter very much. I can't quite put my finger on what it was that annoyed me so much, but boy did she grate on my nerves a bit. 💍
Annoying protagonist aside, this was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
The story is mostly told from the perspective of the main protagonist, Winter, with some chapters from the POV of her fiancé Fenton. 💍
The forgotten wife of the title is Fenton's ex-wife, Laura Blackwell. This is a story of secrets and lies, of cover-ups, and of rich people who think money can make all problems disappear. 💍
At the risk of ruffling a few feathers, I have to admit to not liking Winter very much. I can't quite put my finger on what it was that annoyed me so much, but boy did she grate on my nerves a bit. 💍
Annoying protagonist aside, this was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
December 1, 2025
The novel is told mainly through Winter’s perspective, with occasional chapters from her fiancé, Fenton. The “forgotten wife” is Laura Blackwell, Fenton’s ex, whose presence sparks a story of secrets, privilege, and deception. From the start, the book is gripping, full of unpredictable twists and the tension of an unreliable narrator.
Fenton’s hidden past steadily unravels, pulling in Laura, Winter’s confidant Cammie, a suspicious brother, a domineering father, and even the kindly neighbor. Winter is left struggling to decide who she can trust. Her first‑person narration draws us into her fears and doubts, heightening the suspense. While the revelations are compelling, the second half loses some energy, with relationships feeling underdeveloped and the ending less satisfying. Still, Winter’s journey keeps you turning pages.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, allopinions are my own.
Fenton’s hidden past steadily unravels, pulling in Laura, Winter’s confidant Cammie, a suspicious brother, a domineering father, and even the kindly neighbor. Winter is left struggling to decide who she can trust. Her first‑person narration draws us into her fears and doubts, heightening the suspense. While the revelations are compelling, the second half loses some energy, with relationships feeling underdeveloped and the ending less satisfying. Still, Winter’s journey keeps you turning pages.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, allopinions are my own.
November 23, 2025
THE FORGOTTEN WIFE BY ALEX SIGMORE.
Release date set for the 17th of December 2025.
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This books grabs you very quickly and it holds on very tight throughout.
The twists were twisty and unpredictable.
I do love it when I don't really know what's happening.
I also love a unreliable narrator.
This is my first book by this author and looking forward to reading another ☺
Release date set for the 17th of December 2025.
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This books grabs you very quickly and it holds on very tight throughout.
The twists were twisty and unpredictable.
I do love it when I don't really know what's happening.
I also love a unreliable narrator.
This is my first book by this author and looking forward to reading another ☺
November 13, 2025
You can't keep the truth hidden forever
From the very first page, The Forgotten Wife will have you in a desperate choke hold. It's the kind of twisty, devious romp that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime.
What would you do if your fiancé, the man you've told all your secrets and insecurities to, was caught in a momentous lie? The kind of lie that dredges up past traumas and leaves you questioning your future? Well, for our poor, betrayed main character Winter Southerland, you dig in your heels and run blindly into the fray in a desperate search for truth!
Winter has some issues. She's been betrayed by some key people in her life and she's done her best to evolve and cope with those traumas, but she might not be as 'healed' as she would like to believe. She's something of an introvert, doesn't have the best social skills, hardly any friends, and aside from her job as an engineer barely has a life outside the home she shares with her fiancé Fenton. Her life appears perfect on the surface, but as the story progresses and her frustrations and doubts take center stage, we realize just how much of herself she's let go of to fit into life with Fenton.
Love is never as simple as it first appears. Fenton's secrets keep growing, taking on a life of their own as more and more people get ensnared in their grasp. First, there's Fenton's mysterious ex who shares startling truths with Winter. Then add in their sweet elderly neighbor, Fenton's shady yet gregarious older brother Brian, Winter's only friend & confidant Cammie, and Fenton's overbearing (and possible criminal overlord) father... there's no shortage of people telling Winter what to do or who to trust.
Most of the book is told in first person POV through Winter's eyes, giving us backstage access to all her insecurities, doubts, and fears. It makes the mystey and the danger that much more gripping. I was thoroughly invested, my own mind spinning through the possible truths with dizzying speed, just like Winter's, while trying to piece everything together and reading well into the wee hours of the morning until the truth was finally revealed.
Alex, you've done it again! Thanks for another stellar read.
**I received an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley for which I voluntarily chose to write an unbiased review.**
From the very first page, The Forgotten Wife will have you in a desperate choke hold. It's the kind of twisty, devious romp that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime.
What would you do if your fiancé, the man you've told all your secrets and insecurities to, was caught in a momentous lie? The kind of lie that dredges up past traumas and leaves you questioning your future? Well, for our poor, betrayed main character Winter Southerland, you dig in your heels and run blindly into the fray in a desperate search for truth!
Winter has some issues. She's been betrayed by some key people in her life and she's done her best to evolve and cope with those traumas, but she might not be as 'healed' as she would like to believe. She's something of an introvert, doesn't have the best social skills, hardly any friends, and aside from her job as an engineer barely has a life outside the home she shares with her fiancé Fenton. Her life appears perfect on the surface, but as the story progresses and her frustrations and doubts take center stage, we realize just how much of herself she's let go of to fit into life with Fenton.
Love is never as simple as it first appears. Fenton's secrets keep growing, taking on a life of their own as more and more people get ensnared in their grasp. First, there's Fenton's mysterious ex who shares startling truths with Winter. Then add in their sweet elderly neighbor, Fenton's shady yet gregarious older brother Brian, Winter's only friend & confidant Cammie, and Fenton's overbearing (and possible criminal overlord) father... there's no shortage of people telling Winter what to do or who to trust.
Most of the book is told in first person POV through Winter's eyes, giving us backstage access to all her insecurities, doubts, and fears. It makes the mystey and the danger that much more gripping. I was thoroughly invested, my own mind spinning through the possible truths with dizzying speed, just like Winter's, while trying to piece everything together and reading well into the wee hours of the morning until the truth was finally revealed.
Alex, you've done it again! Thanks for another stellar read.
**I received an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley for which I voluntarily chose to write an unbiased review.**
November 19, 2025
The Forgotten Wife is a gripping mystery thriller that begins with a mysterious book delivered on a doorstep. When Winter discovers this book and confronts her fiancé, Fenton, everything starts unraveling— hidden secrets, lies of omissions, threats from his influential family. Told from both Winter and Fenton’s POVs, each chapter is steeped in suspicion and mistrust, and the mysteries keep piling on each other. The unearthed stories were gripping, though the second half of the story fell a little flat for me. The characters and their relationships lacked depth, which I felt would have created a stronger foundation for the plot and ongoing investigations. The lack of communication and ignoring of major plot devices may have worked for the pacing of the story, but they were frustrating as a reader. There was enjoyment in following Winter’s story, despite what I found to ultimately be an unsatisfying ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
November 12, 2025
Winter Southerland is soon to be married to architect Fenton Byrnes. Things seem to be perfect, but when a mysterious package arrives at their home Winter's life begins to unravel, and secrets begin to come to life.
I really don't know how I feel about this one; while I did find it entertaining, and definitely had a good time with it, I also had somewhat of a hard time getting through it, and found myself rolling my eyes quite a bit. I feel like sometimes it would build up just to lead to nothing, and while it certainly did deliver at the end, it kind of felt like it was coming out of nowhere. It also felt a little slow, until it suddenly took a turn and got a lot more interesting. I do think it might be a me problem, and that others might love it way more than I did. And once again, it definitely does its job, it's very quick to read, and, once it hooks you, very hard to put down.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I really don't know how I feel about this one; while I did find it entertaining, and definitely had a good time with it, I also had somewhat of a hard time getting through it, and found myself rolling my eyes quite a bit. I feel like sometimes it would build up just to lead to nothing, and while it certainly did deliver at the end, it kind of felt like it was coming out of nowhere. It also felt a little slow, until it suddenly took a turn and got a lot more interesting. I do think it might be a me problem, and that others might love it way more than I did. And once again, it definitely does its job, it's very quick to read, and, once it hooks you, very hard to put down.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
December 10, 2025
I think the first half of the book has a good pacing and structure it got me hooked and interested in the story. Also you genuinely can not guess who is plotting all of the things happening and that’s enjoyable. The café encounters were my favorite, you could feel the tension.
The other half of the book was a little bit harder to get through, Winter’s character kept taking her assumptions as definite truths and it was annoying at one point.
I’m not sure about the ending and the person behind all of the stalking I found that choice of character and motive a little bit odd.
I want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review
The other half of the book was a little bit harder to get through, Winter’s character kept taking her assumptions as definite truths and it was annoying at one point.
I’m not sure about the ending and the person behind all of the stalking I found that choice of character and motive a little bit odd.
I want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 4, 2025
I was completely captivated by this book from the very first page. This is a fast-paced story that held my interest the entire time. I was unable to put it aside. That knot of dread and anxiety was well captured by the thought of a person in your life understanding you just enough to make you reevaluate everything you believed to be true. The plot is interesting and complex. The chapters are brief and present different points of view. The characters had depth, the language was clear and urgent, and just when I thought I understood what was going to happen, there was the climax, a total surprise!!!
A special thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing the online Advance Readers Copy (ARC).
A special thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing the online Advance Readers Copy (ARC).
December 1, 2025
Good book overall, though it did drag in a few parts for me. I definitely didn’t expect that ending!
November 21, 2025
this was interesting. reading the perspective of someone who you cannot even trust is a very exhilarating experience, and that was exactly what going through every twist and turn in this book felt like.
seeing everything about laura, winter, and fenton unravel was worth the pacing issues and the underwhelming writing at some paragraphs. truly a fun but eerie experience.
thank you to netgalley and storm publishing for the ARC!!
seeing everything about laura, winter, and fenton unravel was worth the pacing issues and the underwhelming writing at some paragraphs. truly a fun but eerie experience.
thank you to netgalley and storm publishing for the ARC!!
November 6, 2025
The Forgotten Wife by Alex Sigmore
Storm Publishing – Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
You know that feeling when you open a thriller and within five pages you’re already planning to cancel tomorrow’s responsibilities because there’s no way you’re putting this book down? That was me with The Forgotten Wife. And when I say “no way,” I mean I read this on my phone in the grocery line, in the bathtub, and while pretending to listen to a podcast that had been paused for 30 minutes. It got me.
Alex Sigmore delivers a slick, taut psychological thriller that’s as unnerving as it is addictive. At its core, this book is about trust, the terrifying ambiguity of memory, and what happens when the person you love the most starts looking like a stranger in the right (or wrong) lighting.
Our protagonist Winter Southerland is a civil engineer, living in a sleek, modern home custom-built by her fiancé Fenton. They’re planning a life together that’s supposed to be all clean lines and stability. But then a package arrives—a novel by a woman named Laura Blackwell, with a handwritten inscription that sends everything spiraling: “You’ll never get rid of me.” A normal person might think, “Weird gift.” But Winter has a past. And in her world, that kind of message isn’t creepy in a thriller-fan way—it’s a very real threat.
Fenton, of course, insists Laura is practically a stranger. His face, unfortunately for him, says otherwise. Cue the unraveling. Winter, who already has trust issues taller than their floor-to-ceiling windows, starts digging. And once she starts, it’s game over. For her peace of mind. For their relationship. For everything.
The narrative flips between Winter and Fenton’s points of view, and while dual POVs can sometimes feel gimmicky, here it works like a charm. You’re constantly re-evaluating everything. Is Fenton a victim of his manipulative family and sketchy past? Or is he just really good at pretending? Is Winter overreacting… or is she the only one seeing things clearly?
Sigmore doesn’t spoon-feed you anything. He trusts the reader to follow the tension, to sit in the unease, and to live in the gray areas. The prose is crisp, the dialogue sharp, and the pacing a steady, tightening screw. The chapters are short, propulsive, and strategically placed for maximum anxiety. Every time I thought I had a handle on the plot, another secret peeled back, another name surfaced, another memory resurfaced that may or may not be real.
I loved that this story isn’t just about a woman spiraling—though, yes, Winter does a lot of spiraling. It’s about what happens when the person who promised to protect you becomes the source of the danger. And about the way privilege, power, and legacy can warp the truth. Fenton’s family is wealthy, secretive, and problematic in that particular way where you know someone in this lineage has definitely buried evidence or made a body disappear.
Is this book perfect? No. Winter makes some choices that had me shouting, “Oh come on, really?” into the air. There’s one twist that flirts with soap-opera territory, and a few late-game revelations that felt a little crammed into the final act. But honestly? I didn’t care. Because the emotional suspense was so dialed in. Because the characters, while not always likeable, were undeniably compelling. Because even when I thought I’d predicted the next move, Sigmore managed to slap me with something else.
One thing this book does exceptionally well is build dread. Not jump scares, not cheap reveals—actual dread. That creeping, clawing sensation that something is off, but you can’t quite place it. It’s in the tone, the pacing, the subtle shifts in character behavior. That kind of psychological manipulation is hard to pull off without being heavy-handed, but Sigmore manages it with elegance.
Favorite quote? Easy: “Trust is everything to me. It has to be, with a past like mine.” That line doesn’t just set the tone. It is the tone. It anchors the entire story in something painfully human: the fear that trusting someone might mean betraying yourself.
This is a domestic thriller with emotional teeth. It’s a story about the ghosts of past relationships, yes, but also about how we construct reality based on what we want to believe—and what happens when that scaffolding collapses.
If you love books like The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us, or The Perfect Marriage, go ahead and clear your schedule. Sigmore is writing in that same lane, but with a little more grit, a little more psychological bite, and just enough offbeat weirdness to make it feel fresh.
Final verdict:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — because I stayed up way too late, distrusted everyone in my life for 24 hours, and genuinely had fun doing it.
#TheForgottenWife #AlexSigmore #NetGalley #StormPublishing #ThrillerReview #PsychologicalThriller #DomesticThriller #MustReadThriller #Bookstagram #BookReview2025 #TwistyReads #GaslightCentral #PlotTwistAF
Storm Publishing – Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
You know that feeling when you open a thriller and within five pages you’re already planning to cancel tomorrow’s responsibilities because there’s no way you’re putting this book down? That was me with The Forgotten Wife. And when I say “no way,” I mean I read this on my phone in the grocery line, in the bathtub, and while pretending to listen to a podcast that had been paused for 30 minutes. It got me.
Alex Sigmore delivers a slick, taut psychological thriller that’s as unnerving as it is addictive. At its core, this book is about trust, the terrifying ambiguity of memory, and what happens when the person you love the most starts looking like a stranger in the right (or wrong) lighting.
Our protagonist Winter Southerland is a civil engineer, living in a sleek, modern home custom-built by her fiancé Fenton. They’re planning a life together that’s supposed to be all clean lines and stability. But then a package arrives—a novel by a woman named Laura Blackwell, with a handwritten inscription that sends everything spiraling: “You’ll never get rid of me.” A normal person might think, “Weird gift.” But Winter has a past. And in her world, that kind of message isn’t creepy in a thriller-fan way—it’s a very real threat.
Fenton, of course, insists Laura is practically a stranger. His face, unfortunately for him, says otherwise. Cue the unraveling. Winter, who already has trust issues taller than their floor-to-ceiling windows, starts digging. And once she starts, it’s game over. For her peace of mind. For their relationship. For everything.
The narrative flips between Winter and Fenton’s points of view, and while dual POVs can sometimes feel gimmicky, here it works like a charm. You’re constantly re-evaluating everything. Is Fenton a victim of his manipulative family and sketchy past? Or is he just really good at pretending? Is Winter overreacting… or is she the only one seeing things clearly?
Sigmore doesn’t spoon-feed you anything. He trusts the reader to follow the tension, to sit in the unease, and to live in the gray areas. The prose is crisp, the dialogue sharp, and the pacing a steady, tightening screw. The chapters are short, propulsive, and strategically placed for maximum anxiety. Every time I thought I had a handle on the plot, another secret peeled back, another name surfaced, another memory resurfaced that may or may not be real.
I loved that this story isn’t just about a woman spiraling—though, yes, Winter does a lot of spiraling. It’s about what happens when the person who promised to protect you becomes the source of the danger. And about the way privilege, power, and legacy can warp the truth. Fenton’s family is wealthy, secretive, and problematic in that particular way where you know someone in this lineage has definitely buried evidence or made a body disappear.
Is this book perfect? No. Winter makes some choices that had me shouting, “Oh come on, really?” into the air. There’s one twist that flirts with soap-opera territory, and a few late-game revelations that felt a little crammed into the final act. But honestly? I didn’t care. Because the emotional suspense was so dialed in. Because the characters, while not always likeable, were undeniably compelling. Because even when I thought I’d predicted the next move, Sigmore managed to slap me with something else.
One thing this book does exceptionally well is build dread. Not jump scares, not cheap reveals—actual dread. That creeping, clawing sensation that something is off, but you can’t quite place it. It’s in the tone, the pacing, the subtle shifts in character behavior. That kind of psychological manipulation is hard to pull off without being heavy-handed, but Sigmore manages it with elegance.
Favorite quote? Easy: “Trust is everything to me. It has to be, with a past like mine.” That line doesn’t just set the tone. It is the tone. It anchors the entire story in something painfully human: the fear that trusting someone might mean betraying yourself.
This is a domestic thriller with emotional teeth. It’s a story about the ghosts of past relationships, yes, but also about how we construct reality based on what we want to believe—and what happens when that scaffolding collapses.
If you love books like The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us, or The Perfect Marriage, go ahead and clear your schedule. Sigmore is writing in that same lane, but with a little more grit, a little more psychological bite, and just enough offbeat weirdness to make it feel fresh.
Final verdict:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — because I stayed up way too late, distrusted everyone in my life for 24 hours, and genuinely had fun doing it.
#TheForgottenWife #AlexSigmore #NetGalley #StormPublishing #ThrillerReview #PsychologicalThriller #DomesticThriller #MustReadThriller #Bookstagram #BookReview2025 #TwistyReads #GaslightCentral #PlotTwistAF
November 5, 2025
From the very first page, this book delivered a psychological punch. It’s a gripping and emotionally engaging thriller that kept me on edge with its mysteries, unpredictable twists, and a steady stream of “Did that really just happen?” moments. The tension is present, and the emotional weight of the story lingers.
The premise is deceptively simple, a newly engaged couple, together for three years, receives a parcel containing a book. What seems like an innocent delivery quickly turns into something far more sinister. This single object becomes the cause for a chain of revelations that shatter their world and expose long-buried secrets. It’s a clever setup that pays attention how the past can resurface in the most unexpected ways.
What Worked Well:
❥ The first-person narration, paired with alternating POVs, created a deeply immersive reading experience for me.
❥ The depiction of female friendships: resilient despite age gaps and distance, was a powerful thread throughout the story.
❥ The plot twists were well-timed and genuinely surprising.
What Fell Short:
❥ The graphic nature of the opening murder scene was jarring and may be too intense.
❥ The motive behind the central vendetta felt exaggerated and lacked emotional grounding.
❥ The female lead’s naivety, while perhaps intentional, occasionally undermined the tension and credibility of her decisions.
Ratings Breakdown:
❥ Setting: 3⭐️
❥ Character Building: 3⭐️
❥ Writing Style: 3⭐️
❥ Message: 4⭐️
❥ Overall: 3⭐️
Final Thoughts: This is a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers who appreciate intricate plots and morally complex characters. It’s not without flaws, but its strength, particularly in pacing and atmosphere, make it a worthwhile addition to your TBR. Ideal for a long journey or a weekend binge, especially if you enjoy stories that leave you questioning every character’s truth.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Alex Sigmore for the advance copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
~JaNnA~
The premise is deceptively simple, a newly engaged couple, together for three years, receives a parcel containing a book. What seems like an innocent delivery quickly turns into something far more sinister. This single object becomes the cause for a chain of revelations that shatter their world and expose long-buried secrets. It’s a clever setup that pays attention how the past can resurface in the most unexpected ways.
What Worked Well:
❥ The first-person narration, paired with alternating POVs, created a deeply immersive reading experience for me.
❥ The depiction of female friendships: resilient despite age gaps and distance, was a powerful thread throughout the story.
❥ The plot twists were well-timed and genuinely surprising.
What Fell Short:
❥ The graphic nature of the opening murder scene was jarring and may be too intense.
❥ The motive behind the central vendetta felt exaggerated and lacked emotional grounding.
❥ The female lead’s naivety, while perhaps intentional, occasionally undermined the tension and credibility of her decisions.
Ratings Breakdown:
❥ Setting: 3⭐️
❥ Character Building: 3⭐️
❥ Writing Style: 3⭐️
❥ Message: 4⭐️
❥ Overall: 3⭐️
Final Thoughts: This is a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers who appreciate intricate plots and morally complex characters. It’s not without flaws, but its strength, particularly in pacing and atmosphere, make it a worthwhile addition to your TBR. Ideal for a long journey or a weekend binge, especially if you enjoy stories that leave you questioning every character’s truth.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Alex Sigmore for the advance copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
~JaNnA~
November 10, 2025
Winter Southerland is soon to be married to her architect fiance, Fenton Byrnes. They've been together for three years and things are perfect...until they aren't. From the moment a mysterious package arrives at their home, Winter's life begins to unravel. Secrets begin to make themselves known and suddenly Winter is caught in a dangerous game.
There were some things I really liked here. First off - and I know this seems like a little thing - I really enjoyed that Winter is an Engineer. You don't often see that in writing and even though it isn't a major plot point, I love that the author gave the protagonist a meaty and unusual profession. I also enjoyed how accurately the author describes the thought process of an over-thinker; being able to see the path of Winters thoughts in the opening few chapters made her very human and relateable, if not always likeable. On the same point, this makes her a bit of an unreliable narrator in a few chapters, and I always enjoy that kind of slightly untrustworthy element. The book is fast paced but that makes it both easy to read and one that you don't want to put down. The ending is unexpected and without giving too much away the motive is really original.
However I can't say as I really cared much about any of the characters in this. The leading characters all manage to do exactly the wrong thing ALL THE TIME and continually make their own situation worse through either stubbornness or stupidity (or both). Winter does all of the things I am most frustrated by in female characters - makes huge jumps to wild conclusions, justifies her own crappy behaviour rather than owning it and runs towards danger for no real reason; occasionally endangering others in the process. The villains in the piece deserve more page time, especially given the delightfully twisted motive; I would have loved to have seen more of them.
Overall a good weekend read, intriguing and exciting enough to keep a reader entertained but probably not one I'll return to.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
There were some things I really liked here. First off - and I know this seems like a little thing - I really enjoyed that Winter is an Engineer. You don't often see that in writing and even though it isn't a major plot point, I love that the author gave the protagonist a meaty and unusual profession. I also enjoyed how accurately the author describes the thought process of an over-thinker; being able to see the path of Winters thoughts in the opening few chapters made her very human and relateable, if not always likeable. On the same point, this makes her a bit of an unreliable narrator in a few chapters, and I always enjoy that kind of slightly untrustworthy element. The book is fast paced but that makes it both easy to read and one that you don't want to put down. The ending is unexpected and without giving too much away the motive is really original.
However I can't say as I really cared much about any of the characters in this. The leading characters all manage to do exactly the wrong thing ALL THE TIME and continually make their own situation worse through either stubbornness or stupidity (or both). Winter does all of the things I am most frustrated by in female characters - makes huge jumps to wild conclusions, justifies her own crappy behaviour rather than owning it and runs towards danger for no real reason; occasionally endangering others in the process. The villains in the piece deserve more page time, especially given the delightfully twisted motive; I would have loved to have seen more of them.
Overall a good weekend read, intriguing and exciting enough to keep a reader entertained but probably not one I'll return to.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5*
This is the first book thar I have read by Alex Sigmore and I must admit that I did enjoy it. I only gave it 3.5 ( rounded up) because there was one important fact that didn't add up for me, unfortunately, I can't reveal it without spoilers.
Having said that, the author manages to build up the suspense and keep you guessing until the end, an end that I neither guessed or anticipated.
Engineer, Winter Southerland, was happily engaged to architect, Fenton Byrne, Winter had been in a previous relationship, a relationship that had ended badly and had affected her deeply. Winter had opened up to Fenton about her background, he knew everything.........so why would he lie to her.
Winter's curiosity got the better of her when a parcel containing a book was delivered to Fenton, she opened it hoping that she could reseal it before he came home, the book was titled "The Last Man I'd Marry" but more ominous was the inscription "To F, no matter what, you'll never get rid of me, Love you Forever"
And then the lies continued, the man that Winter was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with, was lying to her, did she even know him even after three years together ?
Why did Fenton hide the book ?
Why had Fenton distanced himself from his wealthy, controlling father, a father who had powerful people in high places in his pocket, a father who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
Who knew the secrets to their beautiful designer home ?
This story twists and turns, everyone is suspect but what is Fenton's story, what is he hiding ?
I am sure that loads of people will love this book but I found it hard to warm to the characters, although Fenton had partially escaped from his father's clutches, I still found him a bit of a wimp. Winter, I thought, was wrapped up in her own little bubble, neglecting her friends except when she needed them. I did, however, like Janet, her neighbour, and Keever, the retired cop.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.
This is the first book thar I have read by Alex Sigmore and I must admit that I did enjoy it. I only gave it 3.5 ( rounded up) because there was one important fact that didn't add up for me, unfortunately, I can't reveal it without spoilers.
Having said that, the author manages to build up the suspense and keep you guessing until the end, an end that I neither guessed or anticipated.
Engineer, Winter Southerland, was happily engaged to architect, Fenton Byrne, Winter had been in a previous relationship, a relationship that had ended badly and had affected her deeply. Winter had opened up to Fenton about her background, he knew everything.........so why would he lie to her.
Winter's curiosity got the better of her when a parcel containing a book was delivered to Fenton, she opened it hoping that she could reseal it before he came home, the book was titled "The Last Man I'd Marry" but more ominous was the inscription "To F, no matter what, you'll never get rid of me, Love you Forever"
And then the lies continued, the man that Winter was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with, was lying to her, did she even know him even after three years together ?
Why did Fenton hide the book ?
Why had Fenton distanced himself from his wealthy, controlling father, a father who had powerful people in high places in his pocket, a father who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
Who knew the secrets to their beautiful designer home ?
This story twists and turns, everyone is suspect but what is Fenton's story, what is he hiding ?
I am sure that loads of people will love this book but I found it hard to warm to the characters, although Fenton had partially escaped from his father's clutches, I still found him a bit of a wimp. Winter, I thought, was wrapped up in her own little bubble, neglecting her friends except when she needed them. I did, however, like Janet, her neighbour, and Keever, the retired cop.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.
December 29, 2025
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this eARC.
The Forgotten Wife is one of those thrillers that begins with a whisper and ends with a detonation. Sigmore crafts a story that feels intimate at first—almost deceptively so—before widening into a tense, layered mystery about identity, memory, and the secrets people bury to survive.
The novel’s emotional core is its protagonist, whose life is quietly unraveling long before the first major twist arrives. Sigmore doesn’t rely on shock value; instead, the tension builds through subtle dissonance—small inconsistencies, half‑remembered moments, and the unsettling sense that the truth is hiding in plain sight. This slow-burn approach pays off because the character work is so strong. The protagonist’s vulnerability never feels manufactured; it’s grounded in lived experience, making their unraveling both gripping and deeply human.
Sigmore excels at creating spaces that feel slightly off-kilter—homes that don’t feel lived in, conversations that end too abruptly, familiar places that suddenly feel foreign. The setting becomes a psychological landscape, mirroring the protagonist’s growing suspicion that the life they’re living may not be the one they chose.
As the plot accelerates, Sigmore threads together clues with impressive control. The reveals arrive with the kind of precision that makes you rethink earlier chapters, yet the story never feels over-engineered. Instead, it unfolds with a natural, almost inevitable logic, as if the truth has been waiting patiently for the reader to catch up.
Sigmore resists the temptation to tie every thread into a neat bow, leaving just enough ambiguity to linger after the last page. It’s the kind of ending that invites reflection—on trust, on autonomy, and on the stories we tell ourselves to feel safe.
The Forgotten Wife is a taut, psychologically rich thriller that balances emotional depth with sharp plotting. Sigmore delivers a story that is as haunting as it is propulsive, perfect for readers who crave suspense rooted in character rather than spectacle.
The Forgotten Wife is one of those thrillers that begins with a whisper and ends with a detonation. Sigmore crafts a story that feels intimate at first—almost deceptively so—before widening into a tense, layered mystery about identity, memory, and the secrets people bury to survive.
The novel’s emotional core is its protagonist, whose life is quietly unraveling long before the first major twist arrives. Sigmore doesn’t rely on shock value; instead, the tension builds through subtle dissonance—small inconsistencies, half‑remembered moments, and the unsettling sense that the truth is hiding in plain sight. This slow-burn approach pays off because the character work is so strong. The protagonist’s vulnerability never feels manufactured; it’s grounded in lived experience, making their unraveling both gripping and deeply human.
Sigmore excels at creating spaces that feel slightly off-kilter—homes that don’t feel lived in, conversations that end too abruptly, familiar places that suddenly feel foreign. The setting becomes a psychological landscape, mirroring the protagonist’s growing suspicion that the life they’re living may not be the one they chose.
As the plot accelerates, Sigmore threads together clues with impressive control. The reveals arrive with the kind of precision that makes you rethink earlier chapters, yet the story never feels over-engineered. Instead, it unfolds with a natural, almost inevitable logic, as if the truth has been waiting patiently for the reader to catch up.
Sigmore resists the temptation to tie every thread into a neat bow, leaving just enough ambiguity to linger after the last page. It’s the kind of ending that invites reflection—on trust, on autonomy, and on the stories we tell ourselves to feel safe.
The Forgotten Wife is a taut, psychologically rich thriller that balances emotional depth with sharp plotting. Sigmore delivers a story that is as haunting as it is propulsive, perfect for readers who crave suspense rooted in character rather than spectacle.
November 4, 2025
Okay listen up, because I just finished this cerebral labyrinth of domestic treachery, and my brain is currently resembling a bowl of overcooked spaghetti, a condition I attribute entirely to the sheer profligacy of twists Sigmore decided to deploy. The Forgotten Wife, or as I'm calling it, My Fiancé is a Secret-Hoarding Architect Who Needs Immediate Therapy, is the kind of book that should come with a complimentary migraine cocktail. We follow Winter Southerland, who, let's be frank, possesses the emotional stability of a teetering Jenga tower. She's got this picture-perfect existence, the custom-built house, the seemingly impeccable fiancé, Felton, and you know right from the jump that this idyll is about to be utterly obliterated. The catalyst? A package. Not a sexy one, mind you, but a novel from a woman named Laura Blackwell with an inscription that basically screams, "Your marital bliss is a charlatan, and I am here to facilitate its rapid dissolution."
Winter's past makes her trust issues gargantuan, and honestly, who can blame her? But her immediate, compulsive dive into Felton's history is both her most annoying and most pivotal characteristic. She doesn't just ask, she excavates, going full amateur sleuth while Felton maintains this air of maddening, insouciant charm. The book does this clever-but-ultimately-vexing thing where it toggles between their POVs, making you perpetually question who the real malefactor is. Is Felton gaslighting her into insanity? Is his rich, powerful family the machinator behind the whole sordid affair? Or is Winter, given her admitted history, the wholly unreliable narrator, prone to paroxysms of suspicion? This narrative ambiguity is the book's main engine, but also its most exasperating flaw. Sometimes you just want one character to be marginally less cryptic, you know? The constant, unrelenting tension feels less like suspense and more like a sustained emotional shriek.
#TheForgottenWife #NetGalley
Winter's past makes her trust issues gargantuan, and honestly, who can blame her? But her immediate, compulsive dive into Felton's history is both her most annoying and most pivotal characteristic. She doesn't just ask, she excavates, going full amateur sleuth while Felton maintains this air of maddening, insouciant charm. The book does this clever-but-ultimately-vexing thing where it toggles between their POVs, making you perpetually question who the real malefactor is. Is Felton gaslighting her into insanity? Is his rich, powerful family the machinator behind the whole sordid affair? Or is Winter, given her admitted history, the wholly unreliable narrator, prone to paroxysms of suspicion? This narrative ambiguity is the book's main engine, but also its most exasperating flaw. Sometimes you just want one character to be marginally less cryptic, you know? The constant, unrelenting tension feels less like suspense and more like a sustained emotional shriek.
#TheForgottenWife #NetGalley
November 24, 2025
Alex Sigmore is both a prolific and successful writer. The Forgotten Wife, he tells the reader in a letter at the end of the book, was his first attempt at writing. A book that was never published. Until now.
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, but I did enjoy the story which opened with a murder. The reader is then introduced Winter, who narrates. She is engaged to Fenton, an architect and they live in a house he has renovated. One evening as she is waiting for him to come home from work, a package is posted through the door. Although addressed to Fenton, Winter is unable to resist opening it. Discovering a book, she settles down to read the first few chapters and is intrigued both by the plot and the dedication in the front ‘No matter what, you’ll never get rid of me, Love you for ever…’
The Forgotten Wife exposes secrets from Fenton’s previous life. One’s he would rather keep under wraps. His eventual admission to Winter of another life before her which included a wife, only makes things worse. It triggers Winter’s curiosity and she cannot resist investigating, needing to know the whole story. As they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and Winter’s insistence in getting to the bottom of the whole thing will change everything – her relationship with Fenton, and ultimately her future. Although the main narrator is Winter, there are sections written from Fenton's POV which gives a broader feel to events.
The Forgotten Wife is a good solid story with twists and turns a-plenty.
I would like to thank Storm, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Forgotten Wife in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, but I did enjoy the story which opened with a murder. The reader is then introduced Winter, who narrates. She is engaged to Fenton, an architect and they live in a house he has renovated. One evening as she is waiting for him to come home from work, a package is posted through the door. Although addressed to Fenton, Winter is unable to resist opening it. Discovering a book, she settles down to read the first few chapters and is intrigued both by the plot and the dedication in the front ‘No matter what, you’ll never get rid of me, Love you for ever…’
The Forgotten Wife exposes secrets from Fenton’s previous life. One’s he would rather keep under wraps. His eventual admission to Winter of another life before her which included a wife, only makes things worse. It triggers Winter’s curiosity and she cannot resist investigating, needing to know the whole story. As they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and Winter’s insistence in getting to the bottom of the whole thing will change everything – her relationship with Fenton, and ultimately her future. Although the main narrator is Winter, there are sections written from Fenton's POV which gives a broader feel to events.
The Forgotten Wife is a good solid story with twists and turns a-plenty.
I would like to thank Storm, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Forgotten Wife in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! This was such a relentless and addictive psychological thriller, I absolutely devoured it!! In winter, I love reading books that centre on the fundamental breakdown of trust, a theme that instantly creates a chilling sense of suspense. Our main character, Winter, has a fiancé, Fenton, who lies straight to her face and claims he barely knows a woman named Laura. That lie is immediately thrown into doubt when Laura sends Fenton a novel with the chilling inscription, “You’ll never get rid of me.”
This was such a fantastic opener, the tension is high from page one. Winter’s once beautiful home quickly begins to feel like a cage, and the unsettling sense of being watched through the floor-to-ceiling windows is incredibly well executed.
For me, the most striking element was the intense, claustrophobic atmosphere that escalates Winter’s paranoia inside her own home. Alex perfectly captures the way a safe space can turn into a prison, making the suspense deeply effective.
This book is packed with dark intrigue, betrayal, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, exactly as promised. It’s a story that had me reading well into the night on my Kindle, thanks to its pacing and genuinely shocking twists. I personally found it the perfect cosy winter read, especially if you’re like me and crave a book that will keep you up all night.
I read this in one sitting, it’s amazing! The writing style is so strong; just be ready for how this book builds thick, suffocating tension and delivers genuinely shocking twists throughout.
This was such a fantastic opener, the tension is high from page one. Winter’s once beautiful home quickly begins to feel like a cage, and the unsettling sense of being watched through the floor-to-ceiling windows is incredibly well executed.
For me, the most striking element was the intense, claustrophobic atmosphere that escalates Winter’s paranoia inside her own home. Alex perfectly captures the way a safe space can turn into a prison, making the suspense deeply effective.
This book is packed with dark intrigue, betrayal, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, exactly as promised. It’s a story that had me reading well into the night on my Kindle, thanks to its pacing and genuinely shocking twists. I personally found it the perfect cosy winter read, especially if you’re like me and crave a book that will keep you up all night.
I read this in one sitting, it’s amazing! The writing style is so strong; just be ready for how this book builds thick, suffocating tension and delivers genuinely shocking twists throughout.
November 3, 2025
Trust is the foundation of everything, whether it’s about friendships or any other kind of relationship between two or more people. When someone isn’t honest, something breaks — and the question is whether it can ever be mended again. In many cases, the answer is no, and rightly so. Otherwise, aren’t you being rather naïve and exposing yourself to disappointment all over again?
Winter feels exactly the same way. When she starts suspecting that her fiancé Fenton is deceiving her, she decides — based on past experiences — not to be fooled this time. When the truth finally comes out, she sees her rosy future go up in smoke. However, she’s determined to find out exactly what’s going on, and Fenton had better watch his back.
The deeper Winter digs, the more she realizes that the truth is far darker than she first imagined — and that she might be better off running away before it’s too late…
The author takes the reader on an intriguing quest for a hidden truth, complete with a few twists and turns along the way. And, of course, you’re cleverly misled before discovering with amazement how everything fits together.
Personally, I wouldn’t have minded if it had been a bit darker and had a touch more pizzazz, but I respect the author’s choice.
A book that makes you reflect on what saving someone truly means — apparently, there are different versions of that too. 🙂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you
Winter feels exactly the same way. When she starts suspecting that her fiancé Fenton is deceiving her, she decides — based on past experiences — not to be fooled this time. When the truth finally comes out, she sees her rosy future go up in smoke. However, she’s determined to find out exactly what’s going on, and Fenton had better watch his back.
The deeper Winter digs, the more she realizes that the truth is far darker than she first imagined — and that she might be better off running away before it’s too late…
The author takes the reader on an intriguing quest for a hidden truth, complete with a few twists and turns along the way. And, of course, you’re cleverly misled before discovering with amazement how everything fits together.
Personally, I wouldn’t have minded if it had been a bit darker and had a touch more pizzazz, but I respect the author’s choice.
A book that makes you reflect on what saving someone truly means — apparently, there are different versions of that too. 🙂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you
November 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and @StormPublishing for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The Forgotten Wife hooked me pretty quickly. I mean, what screams “healthy relationship” more than your fiancé claiming he hardly knows a woman who then sends him her novel with the creepiest inscription ever? The moment he acted like it was no big deal, I knew we were in for some trouble.
The entire book has this slow building, slightly claustrophobic feel that worked perfectly in this audiobook. The big, fancy house with those floor to ceiling windows, the unsettling sense of being watched, and the fiancé who’s keeping way too many secrets, it all created this ideal blend of “I’m stressed out” and “I can’t stop listening.” I really enjoyed the paranoia and how the plot keeps you questioning what’s real and who you can actually trust.
The narration was just right for this story. The voices perfectly captured the anxiety, the uncertainty, and those “is someone lurking behind me right now?” moments. It added that extra layer of atmosphere you want in a psychological thriller.
All in all, The Forgotten Wife is tense, addictive, and twisty enough to keep you guessing until the very end. If you’re into domestic thrillers filled with secrets, paranoia, and a main character who might not be entirely trustworthy, this one is a the audiobook for you.
4 Stars!
#TheForgottenWife, #AlexSigmore, #NetGalley, #StormPublishing
The Forgotten Wife hooked me pretty quickly. I mean, what screams “healthy relationship” more than your fiancé claiming he hardly knows a woman who then sends him her novel with the creepiest inscription ever? The moment he acted like it was no big deal, I knew we were in for some trouble.
The entire book has this slow building, slightly claustrophobic feel that worked perfectly in this audiobook. The big, fancy house with those floor to ceiling windows, the unsettling sense of being watched, and the fiancé who’s keeping way too many secrets, it all created this ideal blend of “I’m stressed out” and “I can’t stop listening.” I really enjoyed the paranoia and how the plot keeps you questioning what’s real and who you can actually trust.
The narration was just right for this story. The voices perfectly captured the anxiety, the uncertainty, and those “is someone lurking behind me right now?” moments. It added that extra layer of atmosphere you want in a psychological thriller.
All in all, The Forgotten Wife is tense, addictive, and twisty enough to keep you guessing until the very end. If you’re into domestic thrillers filled with secrets, paranoia, and a main character who might not be entirely trustworthy, this one is a the audiobook for you.
4 Stars!
#TheForgottenWife, #AlexSigmore, #NetGalley, #StormPublishing
December 7, 2025
Winter is a civil engineer working in a firm with two others and they have been successful. She has been in a relationship with Fenton Byrnes, an architect, and now they are engaged. They live together in a house that he bought some time ago and remodeled so well that it won him an award.
When a package is delivered for Fenton, Winter’s curiosity gets the better of her and she opens it to find a book inside with a dedication to F - saying the author will love him forever and he will never get rid of her. This shocks Winter and she tells Fenton about it. He is quite upset and finally confesses that he has been married before to a woman named Laura Blackwell who may have written the book. Winter is furious that he has not told her before and they fight over it. She is determined to find out more.
Winter’s investigation opens a huge enlightenment about Fenton and his notoriously wealthy family. In doing this, Winter finds herself becoming a target as someone seems to want to destroy her and Fenton. Who is behind this and why?
This book was slow to get moving. It kept going around in circles until nearly the 70 percent mark. I almost decided to DNF it. However, now liking to do that, I persevered and finished the book. I have to say that I find the whole thing rather implausible and, thus, I cannot say that I enjoyed the book. Sorry.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
When a package is delivered for Fenton, Winter’s curiosity gets the better of her and she opens it to find a book inside with a dedication to F - saying the author will love him forever and he will never get rid of her. This shocks Winter and she tells Fenton about it. He is quite upset and finally confesses that he has been married before to a woman named Laura Blackwell who may have written the book. Winter is furious that he has not told her before and they fight over it. She is determined to find out more.
Winter’s investigation opens a huge enlightenment about Fenton and his notoriously wealthy family. In doing this, Winter finds herself becoming a target as someone seems to want to destroy her and Fenton. Who is behind this and why?
This book was slow to get moving. It kept going around in circles until nearly the 70 percent mark. I almost decided to DNF it. However, now liking to do that, I persevered and finished the book. I have to say that I find the whole thing rather implausible and, thus, I cannot say that I enjoyed the book. Sorry.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 2, 2025
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an early arc of The Forgotten Wife by Alex Sigmore.
I enjoyed the story of Winter and Fenton immensely and couldn't put the book down. I read it in one sitting and was eager to know the outcome. Sigmore is a brilliant author and it is clear to see why he is so successful.
It's a book of intricate plots and twists, a real masterpiece and reminds me of my own book, Who's Watching Who with a similar story line.
The characters are deep and I love how we are introduced to Fenton's darker secret and his family as the book goes along, allowing mere snippets here and there.
The ending was a brilliant plot twist that I didn't see coming.
When a writer as good as Sigmore releases a new book, you are compelled to read it.
The author draws you quickly into the story from the prologue. Always a good tactic in my opinion.
What entails is an engrossing story of one woman, Winter who tries to unearth what is happening in her life when a strange book arrives to the house with a dedication in it to her to-be husband. She goes down several rabbit holes trying to find out who sent the book and why.
Fenton himself is confused as we later find out why it can't possibly be from who we think it is.
Honestly, this book gives you all the thriller vibes that we love with this type of book.
Kerry Kennedy Author
I enjoyed the story of Winter and Fenton immensely and couldn't put the book down. I read it in one sitting and was eager to know the outcome. Sigmore is a brilliant author and it is clear to see why he is so successful.
It's a book of intricate plots and twists, a real masterpiece and reminds me of my own book, Who's Watching Who with a similar story line.
The characters are deep and I love how we are introduced to Fenton's darker secret and his family as the book goes along, allowing mere snippets here and there.
The ending was a brilliant plot twist that I didn't see coming.
When a writer as good as Sigmore releases a new book, you are compelled to read it.
The author draws you quickly into the story from the prologue. Always a good tactic in my opinion.
What entails is an engrossing story of one woman, Winter who tries to unearth what is happening in her life when a strange book arrives to the house with a dedication in it to her to-be husband. She goes down several rabbit holes trying to find out who sent the book and why.
Fenton himself is confused as we later find out why it can't possibly be from who we think it is.
Honestly, this book gives you all the thriller vibes that we love with this type of book.
Kerry Kennedy Author
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