To His New Wife: A twisty and utterly unputdownable psychological thriller

by Willow Rose

His ex sent me a letter. I thought she was dead.

When Emma married Benjamin, her life came as close to perfect as someone like her ever could have dreamed. No longer just working for his father, she was part of the family. Helping Benjamin move on from the tragic loss of his first wife hasn’t always been easy – tears, anniversaries, photos of her everywhere – but it brought them closer together, even if his daughter still spends all her time shut up in her room.

But then the first letter arrives at Emma’s desk at work. A pristine white envelope with flawless calligraphy inside.

To Benjamin’s new wife,

With love from,

The wife he killed…

An addictive, jaw-dropping psychological thriller from multi-million-copy bestseller Willow Rose. For fans of Tess Gerritsen, Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose.

What readers are saying about To His New Wife:

“Wow wow wow!!!! Didn’t expect them twists to blow me away!!!!! My heart is still pounding!!!! This book had me hooked honestly couldn’t put it down. Thought I had it all worked out but I was completely wrong! Fantastic!!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book has bestseller written all over it. I had to remind myself to breathe as packed a punch and kept me breathless from beginning to end! I finished it within 24 hours… The twists, turns were at full-throttle lightening speed it just kept going and going it never slowed down I absolutely loved it!… A massive 5 sparkling stars!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book is going to be huge on Booktok, mark my words! From the very first page, I was hooked. It really has it all… I went whaaaaaaaaaaat!!!?? my jaw dropped. An absolute 5-star read!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow wow wow… I could not put it down and have spent the afternoon shushing everybody to allow me to read in peace!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow… An incredible thriller. I could not stop reading… Perfect… So gripping.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wild!! If I could just use one word to describe this book, it would be wild! So many twists and turns that you just can’t put this book down!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow! Just wow!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“What a prologue… Wow!… The twists just kept coming left and right. Definitely add this to your TBR… I will be recommending [this] to everyone!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Amazing!… Hooked me within the first two sentences. If you are looking for something that you want to read in a day and not be able to put down this book is for you.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 12, 2026

About the author

Willow Rose is a multi-million-copy best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 100 novels.

Several of her books have reached the top 10 of ALL books on Amazon in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books all over the world.

She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.

Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming. That's why her fans call her The Queen of Scream.

Willow lives on Florida's Space Coast. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.



Connect with Willow online:

http://www.facebook.com/willowredrose
https://twitter.com/madamwillowrose
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Sign up for Willow's VIP email list, and you'll automatically be notified as soon as her next book is released: www.willow-rose.net

Inbox already stuffed? Send the word: “ebooks” to 31996 to get a text alert with news about new releases, giveaways, and bargains from Willow.

Reviews

[Diane Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy wild ride. Not knowing if the old wife is dead or alive, who's writing letters. Your head is spinning, you are spiraling losing your mind, who can you trust.
I love this book. Fast paced. Great characters.

Thanks to the author the publisher and Netgalley for a early release of this book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow!!!! Didn’t expect them twists to blow me away!!!!! My heart is still pounding!!!!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To His New Wife by Willow Rose is a fast-paced, twisty psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story is immediately intriguing, and wastes no time pulling you into a web of secrets, suspicion, and uneasy tension.

I really enjoyed the steady buildup of suspense and the way Rose plays with trust and perception.. just when I thought I had things figured out, another reveal shifted the ground. The short chapters and sharp pacing made this a quick, compulsive read, perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.

If you’re looking for an engaging, easy-to-binge thriller with plenty of secrets and surprises, To His New Wife is definitely worth the read.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you meet someone you’re attracted to, but unfortunately that person already has a ring on their finger. Some people wouldn’t let that stop them and, under the motto of “egoism at its peak,” would go all in. Others know their place, stay in the background, and show respect.

But life sometimes takes strange twists, and due to tragic circumstances, a golden future is suddenly placed in your lap. The man who was once unreachable is now your husband, and you will do everything in your power to support him and his daughter. You never want to take Alice’s place, but you do want to be there for them—always.

And then the first letter arrives…

It turns Emma’s life completely upside down, and she decides to find out who is behind it and whether the letters are filled with lies or with truth. I probably don’t need to add that she’s about to step into a hornet’s nest…

I did have a suspicion about who might be behind a dark little scheme, but I can already reveal that I was completely wrong. Maybe that’s because in one of the previous books I read, there was a character with the same name as one of the characters here—and I thought, well, that villain again? LOL. Of course, that’s not how it works, but it could have been.

Appearances can be deceiving, and that’s proven once again here. And it works both ways. A charmer can turn out to be a bully, while someone who seems sly and sneaky may end up being your greatest ally.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and savored every moment of it. I have to admit that the carefully crafted schemes were very cleverly put together—and that’s something I truly appreciate. This book simply had everything I love: fantastic characters, manipulation, tension, and some solid twists.

That’s why I’m happy to give it five stars.

Thank you

[Megansschapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

To His New Wife by Willow Rose follows Emma, whose life seems perfect. She married the perfect husband, Benjamin—a successful surgeon and a devoted father to his daughter. She works for his family’s advertising agency. One day, her perfect life starts to crumble when a letter arrives at her work. A letter from Ben’s previous wife, Alice, who died in a car accident, with the text:

“To Benjamin’s new wife, with love from the wife he killed…”

This is my first time reading a book by Willow Rose, and it will not be my last. I found the book hard to put down. The book starts off strong and immediately grabs your interest, and that doesn’t stop until the ending. You just want to keep reading. The writing is clear and easy to follow, and the pacing is good and keeps you hooked.

The characters are really well developed, and you see characters you love and characters you don’t love. The characters also have good character development, and I found them making normal decisions in high-tension situations. The ending did get crazy and shocked me multiple times, and I liked how the author ended her story.

Overall, this was a very addictive and twisty read that I would recommend to readers who love thrillers (especially readers who want to try out thrillers as a genre). Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

To His New Wife is one of those thrillers that grabs you by the collar from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. Emma thinks she’s stepped into the perfect life with Benjamin — charming surgeon, devoted father, grieving widower — until a single, chilling letter lands on her desk.

And that line? “With love from, the wife he killed…”
I actually had to stop and blink. His ex sent me a letter. I thought she was dead. That’s exactly the kind of twisty energy Willow Rose delivers throughout the entire book.

The story moves at a brisk, addictive pace, balancing domestic tension with that creeping sense that something is very, very wrong beneath Benjamin’s polished exterior. Emma is easy to root for, and watching her confidence unravel as the letters keep coming is both unsettling and deliciously suspenseful.

Rose knows how to layer doubt, suspicion, and dread without ever tipping her hand too early. Fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will feel right at home — short chapters, sharp reveals, and a finale that lands with a satisfying jolt.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers that play with trust, obsession, and the secrets people bury to protect their perfect lives, this one is absolutely worth adding to your list. I devoured it in a single weekend.

With thanks to Willow Rose, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Louise Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Emma is living the life of her dreams. Newly married to Ben, a child surgeon, after a whirlwind romance. She works for his family advertising agency and is a high flyer. Then the letter arrives. From Ben’s previous wife, Alice, who died in a car accident. Emma understandably becomes unsettled, making mistakes at work. And still the letters come. They accuse Ben of abuse and killing Alice. As Emma starts to investigate, things start to go wrong for Ben, with an internet accusation claiming to have evidence of his guilt..

Wow wow wow. This starts slowly but all of a sudden the pace is explosive and you are fighting to survive with Emma. At that point I could not put it down and have spent the afternoon shushing everybody to allow me to read in peace! . The detail in the letters she receives is chilling and sent a shiver down my back. The author had me convinced of one truth and then the complete shifts and twists in the tale were powerful and shocking.

The characters were very strong and caused strong emotions in me. Belief in Emma and dislike for her in-laws Robert and Margaret.

I have previously enjoyed books by this author and this is another th at I would highly recommend.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'Did you feel special? Chosen? I did too.'"

I absolutely love Willow Rose's Billie Ann Wilde-series, so when I saw this one pop up, I knew I had to read it. I mean, who isn't drawn in by the premise of a woman, married to a successful doctor, living the absolute best life suddenly receiving a letter from the doctor's death ex-wife, Alice?! When Emma receives the first letter, she starts investigating. Execerbated by a tiktoker publishing clips about what might have really happened to Alice, things spiral out of control fast.

Okay, so I can't say that I didn't see the twist coming. I also can't say that I didn't shout at Emma more than once for not talking to anyone and just making things more complicated for herself. BUT, I don't care. Willow Rose spins a twisty tale that feels real, had my heart thumping, and made me question my own sanity at times. To His New Wife is a rollercoaster of a psychological thriller, with characters that are believable (anyone else think Gilmore Girls when reading and getting to know Robert and Margaret?!) and situations that make you hold your breath.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a Digital Advanced Reader Copy of the book. This review is entirely my own.

[A Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

To His New Wife is such a fantastic twisty thriller that kept me consumed right until the very last page.

Newly married to Ben, Emma thinks she has it all, and she does. That is until the first letter from Ben's deceased first wife arrives. At first she thinks someone is punking her. Then more letters arrive and they have an eerily familiar tone to them. Is someone jealous enough to want to ruin what Emma has fought so hard to procure?

This book was so hard to put down. The action begins right at the start and doesn't slow down until the very end. I enjoy Willow Rose's writing, finding it well paced and the twists well timed. Her writing is always layered, giving the story and her characters dimension. This story has a mixture of likeable and unlikeable characters, which also adds to the depth. I look forward to her next!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC review: This psychological thriller is full of twists that kept me guessing until the very end. At first, suspicion naturally falls on Lily, who appears to be the stereotypical rebellious stepdaughter. As the story unfolds, however, the narrative skillfully shifts, making it clear that nothing—and no one—is quite what they seem, especially when it comes to the husband.
The author does an excellent job of using misdirection to build tension and keep the reader questioning their assumptions. The final chapters, particularly the last few paragraphs, left me wanting answers and thinking about the story long after I finished.
If you enjoy fast-paced psychological thrillers that are hard to put down and packed with surprises, this is definitely one to add to your list when it releases.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newly married Emma is blissfully happy, when she receives a chilling letter from her husband’s first wife. The one who is dead!

I love Willow Rose’s books and this one hooked me in straight away until I felt like Emma wasn’t the only person losing her mind! There was a very obvious answer to who was penning the letters and so I knew it wouldn’t end up being that person, but who? And why? I didn’t have a clue - perhaps I should have done as it all wrapped up beautifully in the end - until it didn’t!

OMG! The ending! My mind is reeling!

There were a couple of unanswered questions/plot holes that frustrated me, but nothing to spoil the overall read, which was excellent!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Willow Rose and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.

[Concha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankyou to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Emma has the life she always wanted, with a perfect husband and a great job, until the day she receives a letter from her husband's late wife. Then the problems with her stepdaughter and at work seem to escalate. Emma does not know who to suspect, but she decides to find out what lies behind the claims in those letters.
With very fluid writing and a pace that increases as the plot progresses and becomes more complicated, you find yourself compelled to read frantically until the end.
Without a doubt, a perfect psychological thriller that is impossible to put down.

[Jennifer TW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is a newly wed career woman, married to a gifted children’s cardiologist, himself recently widowed when his first wife Alice died in a car crash. Emma works in the marketing company of her father in law and finds herself submerged into the elite of Florida society. But Emma is receiving letters claiming to be from Alice, her husbands deceased wife, shedding doubt on her cause of death. And her stepdaughter, lily is becoming increasingly frosty and manipulative. A twisty story that exposes the dark side of a second marriage and family loyalty. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read Willow Rose’s two series Emma Frost and Rebekka Franck collections and LOVED them! This one sounded nice and twisty and 100% thriller, so when I saw this new standalone, I knew I had to read it. The twists were there, and I devoured this so quick! What do you do when you are married to the perfect man and his dead ex-wife sends you a letter? This is how this book starts and never lets up, I will admit sometimes I wanted to yell at the MC to do something different, but it did not take away from the fact that this was fast paced and a heck of a ride. I would for sure rate this one 4 solid stars.

Thank you NetGalley for a ecopy of the book - my views are my own!

[Britney Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhh Wow!!!! Once I started this book I did not want to stop. This is an amazing fast paced thriller read. Read this book in one day!

Thank you #NetGalley for the early read. I highly suggest this book to all.

If you enjoyed Love, Mom this book is sorta on the same page as that one.

Emma marries Ben and starts receiving letters from his dead wife right after they get back from their honeymoon. Shes trying to warn her about the type of husband Ben is.

A tiktoker decides to look into the deceased wifes death and starts a series of tik toks that pushes the family into the eyes of the world.

Lots of twist and this book will keep you engaged the whole way through.

[Eleuteria Sanabria-Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC of To His New Wife by Willow Rose!

After five years together, Emma Caldwell finally marries Dr. Benjamin Stone, a widower with a teenage daughter, Lily. From the start, Lily makes it clear that she’s not thrilled about Emma joining their family, and married life is anything but smooth. Then Emma begins receiving mysterious letters at work—letters that completely turn her world upside down. 😳

This book is packed with twists and turns that kept me hooked and guessing right up until the end!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

His ex sent me a letter…I thought she was dead
this sentence made me want to read the book and it did not disappoint

My first read by Willow Rose and it will not be my last

The book follows Emma her life looks perfect married to the Perfect husband Benjamin a surgeon along with his Daughter

Out of the blue a letter arrives from his ex wife Alice who died….

So many twists and turns and I didn’t expect the end a really enjoyable thriller that will have you question everything

Thank you Bookouture and Willow Rose for this ARC

[KDRBCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

To His New Wife by Willow Rose published by Bookouture is the next pulse pounding thriller by this outstanding author, I'm a fan of her writing and every single time a new book releases I'm giddy to read the latest masterpiece.
Emma is happily, or maybe not so happily married when she gets accused of unaliving her current husband's ex-wife. But nothing is as it seems, literally nothing.
I loved the suspense, the drama and the twists and turns that had me guessing till the last page. 5 stars.

[Jess Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 star rounded up

As someone who has read many psychological thrillers, this one really fell flat. The twists were predictable and the outcome was obvious.

This was written well with great description and great for those trying to dip their toe into the thriller genre but if you’re a seasoned veteran I would give it a pass.

[Tiffany Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a prologue. What would you do if you received a letter claiming to be your husband’s dead ex wife? This book I immediately got my attention from the first 17 pages wow! The loneliness, anxiety, and feeling like an outsider was so greatly portrayed I could feel Emma’s emotions throughout. Wow the twists just kept coming left and right. Definitely add this to your TBR this is a fast paced thriller that I will be recommending to everyone!

[Alex H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture for the arc! This was my first book by Sheryl Browne and I’m now a fan. It was a very quick and entertaining read.
Emma has a whirlwind romance with her boss’s son. She’s had a crush on Benjamin for 5 years. She thinks she’s the luckiest woman ever when Ben proposes. Although she has a strained relationship with her new stepdaughter, Emma is happy. Until the letters appear..

This short story was full of unexpected twists and turns. I’m so glad I read it!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was outstanding. The prologue captured my attention within the first two sentences and never let go. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, engaging read that you can finish in a day and won’t be able to put down, this is it. The character development is exceptional, with meaningful growth that adds depth and keeps you invested throughout.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.
While I enjoyed this book overall, I think that the writing was very repetitive at points which pulled me out of it. I also wanted to shake the main character so many times for her decisions.
I think this was a good time though and got into the action quickly.

[Grace Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great book! Right from the start it had my interest completely. In just two days I finished it although this did mean I stayed up way too late. I was also very satisfied with the ending as it wrapped up everything very well.

[Corinne Mcpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was truly unputdownable. The storyline keeps you guessing throughout the book. Great writing, great flow, full of twists and turns. I REALLY enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to dig into other books by this author. Quite the thrill ride!

[Carol Drinkwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant fast paced thriller from the beginning until the end, a great storyline with good characters.

Full of lies and surprises throughout and I can thoroughly recommend this book.