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The Wedding Lies
You think your family’s weird?
He promised me forever. But I might not make it to “I do.”
I’m marrying Stephen at Shadowmoor Lodge. His family’s luxurious estate deep in the frozen Surrey Hills. No phone signal, no neighbours, just Stephen’s controlling mother and a family that loves hunting, and watches me like I’m the entertainment.
I open my suitcase, but it’s not my stuff.
Inside is the exact outfit a woman called Charlotte Walker was wearing when she vanished a week ago.
Six days until my wedding. And already I want to run.
Perfect for fans of Alice Feeney, Shalini Boland, Jane E. James and Sue Watson, this gripping thriller will have you second-guessing every page until the final, jaw-dropping twist.
READERS LOVE JADE LEE WRIGHT’S TENSE AND TWISTING
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! . . . Filled with so many twists and turns, I could not turn the pages fast enough.’ Danielle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A tense and exciting thriller that kept me turning the pages until the shocking ending. Fantastic twists and turns! Brilliant!’ Emma B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Mesmerising and gripping! I would give this book ten stars! . . . I was NOT expecting that ending at all!’ NetGalley Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! Fantastic read! What a jaw-dropping thriller with some chilling twists.’ Debbie B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved this deliciously dark, twisty psychological thriller. Had me hooked from the first page to the very last.’ Sarah B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘FANTASTIC! This book was unputdownable from the very first page. What a PHENOMENAL twist at the very end! Amazing!’ NetGalley Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An absolute banger of a book! I couldn’t believe what I was reading! The ending was INSANE!!’ Louise P.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down.’ Sarah F.
He promised me forever. But I might not make it to “I do.”
I’m marrying Stephen at Shadowmoor Lodge. His family’s luxurious estate deep in the frozen Surrey Hills. No phone signal, no neighbours, just Stephen’s controlling mother and a family that loves hunting, and watches me like I’m the entertainment.
I open my suitcase, but it’s not my stuff.
Inside is the exact outfit a woman called Charlotte Walker was wearing when she vanished a week ago.
Six days until my wedding. And already I want to run.
Perfect for fans of Alice Feeney, Shalini Boland, Jane E. James and Sue Watson, this gripping thriller will have you second-guessing every page until the final, jaw-dropping twist.
READERS LOVE JADE LEE WRIGHT’S TENSE AND TWISTING
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! . . . Filled with so many twists and turns, I could not turn the pages fast enough.’ Danielle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A tense and exciting thriller that kept me turning the pages until the shocking ending. Fantastic twists and turns! Brilliant!’ Emma B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Mesmerising and gripping! I would give this book ten stars! . . . I was NOT expecting that ending at all!’ NetGalley Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! Fantastic read! What a jaw-dropping thriller with some chilling twists.’ Debbie B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved this deliciously dark, twisty psychological thriller. Had me hooked from the first page to the very last.’ Sarah B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘FANTASTIC! This book was unputdownable from the very first page. What a PHENOMENAL twist at the very end! Amazing!’ NetGalley Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An absolute banger of a book! I couldn’t believe what I was reading! The ending was INSANE!!’ Louise P.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down.’ Sarah F.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2026
About the author
Jade Lee Wright
8 books285 followersI’m Jade Lee Wright, psychological thriller author.
Although I first dipped my toe into the world of publishing with two self-published novels, I’ve spent the past few years fully immersing myself in the craft. I study English Literature and Creative Writing through the Open University and have since gone on to sign multiple publishing deals—including a two-book deal (and a brand-new follow-up two-book contract!) with Joffe Books.
My debut psychological thriller with them, The Baby Group, was released in July 2025, and my second, The Family Secret, is due out in January 2026. Both have been snapped up by Audible and will be coming to audio soon.
I was longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize 2025 and shortlisted for the 2024 Marlowe & Christie Novel Prize.
When I’m not writing (or daydreaming about the next twist), you’ll usually find me with my nose in a book or looking after my two baby boys.
Although I first dipped my toe into the world of publishing with two self-published novels, I’ve spent the past few years fully immersing myself in the craft. I study English Literature and Creative Writing through the Open University and have since gone on to sign multiple publishing deals—including a two-book deal (and a brand-new follow-up two-book contract!) with Joffe Books.
My debut psychological thriller with them, The Baby Group, was released in July 2025, and my second, The Family Secret, is due out in January 2026. Both have been snapped up by Audible and will be coming to audio soon.
I was longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize 2025 and shortlisted for the 2024 Marlowe & Christie Novel Prize.
When I’m not writing (or daydreaming about the next twist), you’ll usually find me with my nose in a book or looking after my two baby boys.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
January 23, 2026
My second book with Joffe Books is now out in the world! How surreal. I’m so grateful to the wonderful team at Joffe Books for picking up my books and giving me the opportunity to share them with the world. Thank you to every reader, reviewer and person supporting me on my writing journey. It is so appreciated and I hope you enjoy my twisty thriller!
June 8, 2026
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ivy is travelling to England with her fiancé Stephen for their wedding day and it's also the first time she will meet her new in-laws. From the start, Ivy feels like her new mother-in-law doesn't like her and then she thinks she glimpses a young woman who looks like a local missing person in a car with one of her new relatives. What is going on? And is Stephen the man Ivy really thinks him to be?
This was another fast-paced book from Jade Lee Wright that sucked me in and I found it hard to put down. There is definitely a really great creepy atmosphere to the book and this enclosed, cut off feeling from the rest of the world that builds as the story progresses. There was almost a cult-like feeling to the land with all the 'family' cabins and the progeny obsession.
I think there were a few things that bothered me such as the amount of times Ivy 'put her hand to her womb' - the sentence was used a lot, though this may not appear in the final edition. I also found some things a little bit unbelievable and twisted even for a thriller and some of the elements of the story needed extra explanation or could have benefited the story with more building (all the children running around could have been emphasized a bit more), Ingrid did seem to get time alone with Ivy with the bachelorette party and other times, who drugged Ivy and why?
I did enjoy this overall, and it was a quick read for me which I appreciate when I'm having a busy life time and finding my reading a bit slower than normal! Looking forward to Jade's next book!
On a side note, it pleases me greatly that Ivy and Stephen's wedding took place on January 17th 2026, and that is the date I finished this book!
Ivy is travelling to England with her fiancé Stephen for their wedding day and it's also the first time she will meet her new in-laws. From the start, Ivy feels like her new mother-in-law doesn't like her and then she thinks she glimpses a young woman who looks like a local missing person in a car with one of her new relatives. What is going on? And is Stephen the man Ivy really thinks him to be?
This was another fast-paced book from Jade Lee Wright that sucked me in and I found it hard to put down. There is definitely a really great creepy atmosphere to the book and this enclosed, cut off feeling from the rest of the world that builds as the story progresses. There was almost a cult-like feeling to the land with all the 'family' cabins and the progeny obsession.
I think there were a few things that bothered me such as the amount of times Ivy 'put her hand to her womb' - the sentence was used a lot, though this may not appear in the final edition. I also found some things a little bit unbelievable and twisted even for a thriller and some of the elements of the story needed extra explanation or could have benefited the story with more building (all the children running around could have been emphasized a bit more), Ingrid did seem to get time alone with Ivy with the bachelorette party and other times, who drugged Ivy and why?
I did enjoy this overall, and it was a quick read for me which I appreciate when I'm having a busy life time and finding my reading a bit slower than normal! Looking forward to Jade's next book!
On a side note, it pleases me greatly that Ivy and Stephen's wedding took place on January 17th 2026, and that is the date I finished this book!
December 3, 2025
Set against the isolated backdrop of Shadowmoor Lodge, Ivy’s engagement to Stephen quickly spirals into a psychological nightmare. With no phone signal, no neighbours, and a family that seems more interested in surveillance than celebration, the tension builds fast. When Ivy discovers someone else’s belongings in her suitcase—belongings linked to a missing woman—her instincts scream for escape. The lodge’s eerie atmosphere, paired with a cast of suspicious characters and a controlling mother-in-law, creates a claustrophobic setting where danger feels imminent and trust is a luxury.
The story leans into classic thriller tropes with tongue firmly in cheek, diversions abound, and every character seems to be hiding something. Ivy’s literal isolation is matched by emotional distance, especially from Stephen, whose charm barely masks something darker. While the plot occasionally stretches believability and leaves a few logical gaps, the pacing and suspense keep the pages turning. The writing is sharp and stylish, and though the twists may feel familiar, they’re executed with flair. It’s a fast, entertaining read that blends psychological tension with gothic unease, perfect for fans of character-driven thrillers with a touch of melodrama.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
The story leans into classic thriller tropes with tongue firmly in cheek, diversions abound, and every character seems to be hiding something. Ivy’s literal isolation is matched by emotional distance, especially from Stephen, whose charm barely masks something darker. While the plot occasionally stretches believability and leaves a few logical gaps, the pacing and suspense keep the pages turning. The writing is sharp and stylish, and though the twists may feel familiar, they’re executed with flair. It’s a fast, entertaining read that blends psychological tension with gothic unease, perfect for fans of character-driven thrillers with a touch of melodrama.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
January 22, 2026
Rubbish
Worst book Ive ever read, didnt finish it as it was that stupid and far fetched, dont waste your time with it.
Worst book Ive ever read, didnt finish it as it was that stupid and far fetched, dont waste your time with it.
July 8, 2026
A slow burn psychological thriller with twist and turns that bring forward shocking revelations of many of the characters.
Ivy from South Africa is getting married to Stephen James at his family’s secluded hunting cabins at Shadowmoor Lodge in the frozen Surrey Hills as a historic blizzard is coming down. However people are not who they seem to be not even Ivy.
Stephen & Ivy arrive at Shadowmoor Lodge a week before the wedding and there’s a weird relationship with his family and Ivy is alone in a place with no cell reception.
Ivy is not safe with no one to help until her three bridesmaids arrive the day before the wedding.
Overall entertaining but the pace was slow for my taste.
Ivy from South Africa is getting married to Stephen James at his family’s secluded hunting cabins at Shadowmoor Lodge in the frozen Surrey Hills as a historic blizzard is coming down. However people are not who they seem to be not even Ivy.
Stephen & Ivy arrive at Shadowmoor Lodge a week before the wedding and there’s a weird relationship with his family and Ivy is alone in a place with no cell reception.
Ivy is not safe with no one to help until her three bridesmaids arrive the day before the wedding.
Overall entertaining but the pace was slow for my taste.
November 17, 2025
An anxiety inducing read. I didn't truly hate it but I can't rate it higher as I couldn't get on board with this writing style, the plot holes everywhere or just the unrealistic aspect of so much of this. Every character was given basically a fake personality to throw off the reader. How did the mom not know this was all happening? Was the father actually sick? Why would she be drugged? Stephen hadn't been home for years but yet he was so deeply involved too? It was made to seem like he didn't want to get her involved, she's also the one who wanted to get pregnant so badly. It doesn't add up for me. We didn't need plot twists just to have plot twists, they need to make sense with the previous information given.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
Poor Ivy, both weddings ruined by both her husband’s actions. A precious wedding abandoned due to her ex fiancé eloping with her ‘best friend’ and so called maid of honour then following this story of her new husband’s family obsession with getting a female in their bloodline. Strange
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
Marital lies… not exactly a great foundation to start with, but how well do you really know someone? People often show you their best side at first, and their darker edges only surface when they’re backed into a corner.
Starting a relationship is always exciting, with a hint of nerves. Something I personally recognise—and something Ivy also goes through—is meeting the in-laws. If it happens gradually, it’s always a bit easier, but our bride in this story gets to meet the entire family at once, just days before the ceremony. I completely understand her nerves. I remember meeting most of my future husband’s family all in one go at Christmas when we’d only been together for three months. I was ridiculously stressed, feeling all those eyes on me the moment I walked through the door—but clearly, I survived. ;) Hopefully Ivy will too…
I love short blurbs, and this one is very well done. It gets straight to the point, sparks curiosity, and immediately sent my imagination spinning with possible scenarios. Naturally, none of them matched what the author actually delivered—and it was chilling.
The threat in this story came from several directions. I had no idea who could be trusted, and as usual, I was partly wrong. Mission accomplished. The plot was original and I found Ivy to be a strong character.
It’s such a shame that innocent people have to be taken out of the picture because a few others are convinced they have the right to take justice into their own hands, that they’re in the right, and that this is the only solution to their problems.
This book clearly shows how a simple coincidence can send your life down a dangerous path. I’m a happy reader—and that’s why I’m giving it 4 stars. For me, it could have gone just a little darker.
Thank you.
Starting a relationship is always exciting, with a hint of nerves. Something I personally recognise—and something Ivy also goes through—is meeting the in-laws. If it happens gradually, it’s always a bit easier, but our bride in this story gets to meet the entire family at once, just days before the ceremony. I completely understand her nerves. I remember meeting most of my future husband’s family all in one go at Christmas when we’d only been together for three months. I was ridiculously stressed, feeling all those eyes on me the moment I walked through the door—but clearly, I survived. ;) Hopefully Ivy will too…
I love short blurbs, and this one is very well done. It gets straight to the point, sparks curiosity, and immediately sent my imagination spinning with possible scenarios. Naturally, none of them matched what the author actually delivered—and it was chilling.
The threat in this story came from several directions. I had no idea who could be trusted, and as usual, I was partly wrong. Mission accomplished. The plot was original and I found Ivy to be a strong character.
It’s such a shame that innocent people have to be taken out of the picture because a few others are convinced they have the right to take justice into their own hands, that they’re in the right, and that this is the only solution to their problems.
This book clearly shows how a simple coincidence can send your life down a dangerous path. I’m a happy reader—and that’s why I’m giving it 4 stars. For me, it could have gone just a little darker.
Thank you.
July 7, 2026
Really not enjoyable. Annoying characters, plot holes everywhere and just made no sense.
June 26, 2026
I honestly don't even know where to start with this book. The story is a mishmash of random elements along with being incredibly slow.
Ivy is so ridiculously irritating and clueless that I had a difficult time even being interested in what happened to her or why. I mean honestly - why is she so inept? It was infuriating.
Maybe the author couldn't decide where they wanted this story to go or maybe it was poor editing. There are random mentions throughout of a failed wedding, a hijacking (which I think was coded language for a carjacking and sexual assault), witchcraft (?), psychics, sinister Monopoly, trichotillomania - none of which go anywhere or in any way advance the story.
Then the "reveal" is so ridiculous and outlandish it isn't even worth discussing. I should have a DNF'ed this book - don't waste your time.
Ivy is so ridiculously irritating and clueless that I had a difficult time even being interested in what happened to her or why. I mean honestly - why is she so inept? It was infuriating.
Maybe the author couldn't decide where they wanted this story to go or maybe it was poor editing. There are random mentions throughout of a failed wedding, a hijacking (which I think was coded language for a carjacking and sexual assault), witchcraft (?), psychics, sinister Monopoly, trichotillomania - none of which go anywhere or in any way advance the story.
Then the "reveal" is so ridiculous and outlandish it isn't even worth discussing. I should have a DNF'ed this book - don't waste your time.
February 2, 2026
lots of errors
From people, speaking with gags in their mouth to incorrect meals one sentence it’s pork another is lamb, makes it hard to read this story
From people, speaking with gags in their mouth to incorrect meals one sentence it’s pork another is lamb, makes it hard to read this story
January 13, 2026
Charlotte Walker leaves the warm comfort of the pub where her boyfriend’s expecting to meet her. She’s decided to start the journey home alone and through the fug of alcohol she realises she’s being followed and that her only refuge is the cathedral on Guildford’s Stagg Hill. She rattles its locked doors and a hand clamps over her mouth, its owner’s voice hisses menacingly, “Found you.” And on that frosty night she disappears.
On the week before their wedding Ivy and Stephen arrive from South Africa to one of seven cabins nestled in the heart of the countryside on his parents’ estate. It’s in a state of disrepair and Ivy hopes daylight will lend it a more attractive sight.
Despite it being their wedding, it becomes obvious that Ivy is pretty much the only person excluded from the preparations. She learns scant details over the following days but with her suitcase missing since the airport her overriding concern is that something will go wrong and the wedding won’t go ahead – like last time. But, as she gets to know Stephen’s strange and detached family she wonders whether she wants to marry this man and become part of this family.
On a lone horse ride she sees a girl she’s certain is Charlotte Walker being restrained in a car by a man who turns out to be Stephen’s father, Marcel. Her thoughts turn to getting help for the missing girl, hidden somewhere on the family’s estate in weather that’s becoming more brutal by the day.
Jade Lee Wright’s plot and characters are so richly thought out that it’s difficult to pick details to include in this short piece. Each of the characters in the book is so well drawn that their vehemence towards Ivy is almost more palpable than her own story. We learn about the things that have hurt Ivy through the stories the spiteful female members tease from her at points in the story where she should be welcomed into the family and not made to feel isolated. Cousin Natalia seems to be the only family member to give her any sympathy and kindness but she’s also having to protect herself from barbed attacks.
Lack of phone signal and constant intrusion by family and preparations hamper Ivy and make her feel more isolated, vulnerable and certain at least one person in the family means her genuine harm.
This is a book I was quickly drawn into and invested in. It’s remote backdrop and bitter British winter adds to the growing sense of menace throughout the narrative, both of which are used to good effect to thwart Ivy and to add peril to the story.
This is such a good and well-woven story, where the stakes are constantly raised.
On the week before their wedding Ivy and Stephen arrive from South Africa to one of seven cabins nestled in the heart of the countryside on his parents’ estate. It’s in a state of disrepair and Ivy hopes daylight will lend it a more attractive sight.
Despite it being their wedding, it becomes obvious that Ivy is pretty much the only person excluded from the preparations. She learns scant details over the following days but with her suitcase missing since the airport her overriding concern is that something will go wrong and the wedding won’t go ahead – like last time. But, as she gets to know Stephen’s strange and detached family she wonders whether she wants to marry this man and become part of this family.
On a lone horse ride she sees a girl she’s certain is Charlotte Walker being restrained in a car by a man who turns out to be Stephen’s father, Marcel. Her thoughts turn to getting help for the missing girl, hidden somewhere on the family’s estate in weather that’s becoming more brutal by the day.
Jade Lee Wright’s plot and characters are so richly thought out that it’s difficult to pick details to include in this short piece. Each of the characters in the book is so well drawn that their vehemence towards Ivy is almost more palpable than her own story. We learn about the things that have hurt Ivy through the stories the spiteful female members tease from her at points in the story where she should be welcomed into the family and not made to feel isolated. Cousin Natalia seems to be the only family member to give her any sympathy and kindness but she’s also having to protect herself from barbed attacks.
Lack of phone signal and constant intrusion by family and preparations hamper Ivy and make her feel more isolated, vulnerable and certain at least one person in the family means her genuine harm.
This is a book I was quickly drawn into and invested in. It’s remote backdrop and bitter British winter adds to the growing sense of menace throughout the narrative, both of which are used to good effect to thwart Ivy and to add peril to the story.
This is such a good and well-woven story, where the stakes are constantly raised.
January 13, 2026
My first book by Jade Lee Wright and wow! I devoured.
Ivy is about to marry Stephen in England. It's the first time she's meeting his family too. In the Surrey Hills, it's all quite isolated and will only get worse when they're met with a storm. But that's not the problem here - the family is the problem. Why does Stephen's mum seem so hostile? And his sister... What's all that about? And then Ivy opens her suitcase only to find the clothes of a recently missing woman.
Who are these people and what is going on?!
A proper good slow burn thriller that immediately puts you on edge. What's going on? And is everyone in on this? Who can Ivy trust? As a reader you immediately fall into hate with some characters and remain untrustworthy of others just in case. Does their nice persona come with a catch? Each situation makes you more uncomfortable as tensions rise. I started to feel claustrophobic with Ivy, especially when her options to leave or phone someone were so limited.
The build up to the ending when secrets are revealed and people are shouting "run!", and guns are being used, and running through snowy woods is causing deprived lungs... Can I breathe now?! Wow!!! Movie magic.
One thing really surprised me too. It's kinda one of those books you want to read again now you know the ending, and focus more on people's behaviour.
Deffo recommend to thriller lovers!
Ivy is about to marry Stephen in England. It's the first time she's meeting his family too. In the Surrey Hills, it's all quite isolated and will only get worse when they're met with a storm. But that's not the problem here - the family is the problem. Why does Stephen's mum seem so hostile? And his sister... What's all that about? And then Ivy opens her suitcase only to find the clothes of a recently missing woman.
Who are these people and what is going on?!
A proper good slow burn thriller that immediately puts you on edge. What's going on? And is everyone in on this? Who can Ivy trust? As a reader you immediately fall into hate with some characters and remain untrustworthy of others just in case. Does their nice persona come with a catch? Each situation makes you more uncomfortable as tensions rise. I started to feel claustrophobic with Ivy, especially when her options to leave or phone someone were so limited.
The build up to the ending when secrets are revealed and people are shouting "run!", and guns are being used, and running through snowy woods is causing deprived lungs... Can I breathe now?! Wow!!! Movie magic.
One thing really surprised me too. It's kinda one of those books you want to read again now you know the ending, and focus more on people's behaviour.
Deffo recommend to thriller lovers!
January 2, 2026
Thank you to the wonderful Zoe at Zooloo Book Tours for granting me a space on this tour in exchange for an honest review.
To begin with, the premise hooked me - a seemingly fleeting and perfect relationship reaches the engagement stage. I found the subtle hints about others perceptions of the relationship to be the catalyst to what would be disaster after disaster. I found that the initial 'twist' helped to bring the drama to life, and finding items linking to someone missing was a great way to engage us as readers.
As the narrative progressed, I found myself trusting everyone less and less. This is something I can normally sense but I felt like there was SO much happening in every direction, that I felt blindsided in the greatest way!
Overall, a good thriller read and one that is easy to follow.
To begin with, the premise hooked me - a seemingly fleeting and perfect relationship reaches the engagement stage. I found the subtle hints about others perceptions of the relationship to be the catalyst to what would be disaster after disaster. I found that the initial 'twist' helped to bring the drama to life, and finding items linking to someone missing was a great way to engage us as readers.
As the narrative progressed, I found myself trusting everyone less and less. This is something I can normally sense but I felt like there was SO much happening in every direction, that I felt blindsided in the greatest way!
Overall, a good thriller read and one that is easy to follow.
January 14, 2026
Well this was a rollercoaster!
A murder mystery thriller with a whole eerie vibe going on!
The story is told prominently via one POV Ivy, however towards the end there’s another POV thrown in which really does add to the intensity.
Ivy is set to marry Stephen and they head to his family estate in the Surrey Hills not only to meet his family but to get married.
That’s when it all goes wrong! By mistake she has someone else’s suitcase, a suitcase with a missing woman’s clothes in.
Everything unravels from there secrets, lies, kidnap, murder with more twist and turns than ever before. I won’t give anymore away plot wise because I think it’s best with this kinda book especially to do in blind and enjoy the ride.
Such a page turning story that although has a dramatised story line it absolutely works and drags you in for ‘just one more chapter’.
The story flows smoothly and it’s written so well it all feels exactly as it should be and works brilliantly for a griping eerie mystery thriller.
I could not stop turning the pages, I’d have had it finished in 48 hours if I hadn’t had to adult!
Highly recommend for those who love page turning twisty mystery thrillers.
A murder mystery thriller with a whole eerie vibe going on!
The story is told prominently via one POV Ivy, however towards the end there’s another POV thrown in which really does add to the intensity.
Ivy is set to marry Stephen and they head to his family estate in the Surrey Hills not only to meet his family but to get married.
That’s when it all goes wrong! By mistake she has someone else’s suitcase, a suitcase with a missing woman’s clothes in.
Everything unravels from there secrets, lies, kidnap, murder with more twist and turns than ever before. I won’t give anymore away plot wise because I think it’s best with this kinda book especially to do in blind and enjoy the ride.
Such a page turning story that although has a dramatised story line it absolutely works and drags you in for ‘just one more chapter’.
The story flows smoothly and it’s written so well it all feels exactly as it should be and works brilliantly for a griping eerie mystery thriller.
I could not stop turning the pages, I’d have had it finished in 48 hours if I hadn’t had to adult!
Highly recommend for those who love page turning twisty mystery thrillers.
January 12, 2026
What would you do if you arrived at your wedding venue and discovered you’d taken the wrong suitcase? 🤯
And that suitcase belonged to someone who recently went missing… 🫣
Ivy flew from South Africa to England with her fiancé, Stephen, to get married at his family’s home, Shadowmoor Lodge where she would also be meeting his family for the very first time. 🇿🇦✈️🏡🇬🇧
It was meant to be Ivy’s happiest moment: meeting her future in-laws and getting married. 💍 But everything begins to unravel when she opens her suitcase and realizes it isn’t hers. 😩 Whose suitcase did she take? 🤨
As the days count down to the big day, Ivy grows increasingly uneasy around Stephen and his family and begins to uncover dark secrets and lies that no one else knows. 😬
The question is… what will Ivy do next? 🤔
I was completely fixated on this book, so it’s no surprise I finished it in just a few hours! 📖👀 A true page-turner packed with twists and suspense that you won’t be able to put down. 😵
This may be a sign that I need to grab ‘The Baby Group’ and finally start reading it! It’s been gathering dust on my bookcase for months! 🫢
Thank you to Jade and Zooloos Book Tours for this amazing opportunity! ♥️
And that suitcase belonged to someone who recently went missing… 🫣
Ivy flew from South Africa to England with her fiancé, Stephen, to get married at his family’s home, Shadowmoor Lodge where she would also be meeting his family for the very first time. 🇿🇦✈️🏡🇬🇧
It was meant to be Ivy’s happiest moment: meeting her future in-laws and getting married. 💍 But everything begins to unravel when she opens her suitcase and realizes it isn’t hers. 😩 Whose suitcase did she take? 🤨
As the days count down to the big day, Ivy grows increasingly uneasy around Stephen and his family and begins to uncover dark secrets and lies that no one else knows. 😬
The question is… what will Ivy do next? 🤔
I was completely fixated on this book, so it’s no surprise I finished it in just a few hours! 📖👀 A true page-turner packed with twists and suspense that you won’t be able to put down. 😵
This may be a sign that I need to grab ‘The Baby Group’ and finally start reading it! It’s been gathering dust on my bookcase for months! 🫢
Thank you to Jade and Zooloos Book Tours for this amazing opportunity! ♥️
June 28, 2026
It felt like the book dragged on as I got towards the end of the book. Idk some of the characters you didn’t really get to understand there role in the family. I guess it was up to you to figure out there part. Idk . It was long & I had to force myself to finish the book which is never a good sign.
January 6, 2026
**Read for a book tour, below is my honest review**
This had me hooked from the beginning. I was reeled in by the isolated setting and the premise. It had me turning the pages as quick as I could!
The story follows our main character Ivy who has travelled over to the UK for her wedding. But her husband to be’s family is not all it seems..
Throughout the book I was questioning everyone, it felt like everyone had a secret at some point. I thought it was written so well, it was laced with intrigue!
If you have any content triggers, I advise you to read any trigger warnings beforehand.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thriller with an isolated setting and family secrets!
Thank you @zooloosbooktours and Jade for letting me be a part of this tour!
I give this 4 stars!
This had me hooked from the beginning. I was reeled in by the isolated setting and the premise. It had me turning the pages as quick as I could!
The story follows our main character Ivy who has travelled over to the UK for her wedding. But her husband to be’s family is not all it seems..
Throughout the book I was questioning everyone, it felt like everyone had a secret at some point. I thought it was written so well, it was laced with intrigue!
If you have any content triggers, I advise you to read any trigger warnings beforehand.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thriller with an isolated setting and family secrets!
Thank you @zooloosbooktours and Jade for letting me be a part of this tour!
I give this 4 stars!
April 11, 2026
I enjoyed the premise of this one, and it did manage to pull me in at the start. However, the ending felt rushed, with everything unfolding too quickly to fully land. Overall, an interesting idea but I’m a bit unsure about it.
December 5, 2025
Review to come
January 18, 2026
great read
This book holds your interest from the very beginning. A really surprise ending. Read it in two sittings. Will read more by Jade.
This book holds your interest from the very beginning. A really surprise ending. Read it in two sittings. Will read more by Jade.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was really looking forward to reading The wedding lies, the premise of this book was so intriguing. I found the first half of this book slow to start, however it did pick up in the middle and I started to enjoy it and was questioning all of the characters, but by the end it was getting a bit far fetched with many plot holes, and I was left with too many questions.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the arc of this book!
Thank you, Netgalley, for the arc of this book!
January 15, 2026
First book I’ve read by this author. Really enjoyed. Read in 2 days. It’s fast paced & the narrators changed at just the right times to keep the story interesting. Great plot, great main character I was rooting for.
January 7, 2026
Oh I loved this so much. The isolation. The creepy mansion. The Surrey hills (that I live in!) The blood bath at the end. Oh yes. I loved it all and couldn't stop reading. Brilliantly written and an exciting and heart pounding ending!
January 6, 2026
I found this book, had a chilling plot, that quickly drew me, as I quickly turned the pages. To a wedding less then a week, wanting now to run. Suitcase that held a missing person clothes, and not ner wedding dress, is this an omen?
I received the arc from Joffe.
I received the arc from Joffe.
January 3, 2026
A twisty turny thriller that will hook you from the start
After a horrific car-jacking and assault in South Africa, Ivy is gradually getting her life back together when she meets and falls in love with Stephen, the perfect man. After a whirlwind courtship, Ivy agrees to meet his family and get married at his parents' vast wooded estate in Surrey, England. She doesn't realise just how big and remote this family pile is until they arrive in mid winter in a severe winter storm. They eventually find their secluded log cabin only to discover that the suitcase that Ivy picked up is not hers, and instead of her wedding dress, she has the clothes of a complete stranger. Ivy had previously read a report in a newspaper of a woman who has gone missing in the area, and some of the clothes in the case appear to match the missing person.
Things just keep getting worse when she meets Stephens dysfunctional family, and she begins to fear that Stephen is not the perfect man that she thought.
In all true mystery plots, the storm closes in, and the mobile phone network fails, Ivy's friends and bridesmaids are stranded in the storm, and she is all alone to struggle with the weird family and the scary goings on!
It is a very dark and twisty novel that will keep you guessing and page turning until the end!
After a horrific car-jacking and assault in South Africa, Ivy is gradually getting her life back together when she meets and falls in love with Stephen, the perfect man. After a whirlwind courtship, Ivy agrees to meet his family and get married at his parents' vast wooded estate in Surrey, England. She doesn't realise just how big and remote this family pile is until they arrive in mid winter in a severe winter storm. They eventually find their secluded log cabin only to discover that the suitcase that Ivy picked up is not hers, and instead of her wedding dress, she has the clothes of a complete stranger. Ivy had previously read a report in a newspaper of a woman who has gone missing in the area, and some of the clothes in the case appear to match the missing person.
Things just keep getting worse when she meets Stephens dysfunctional family, and she begins to fear that Stephen is not the perfect man that she thought.
In all true mystery plots, the storm closes in, and the mobile phone network fails, Ivy's friends and bridesmaids are stranded in the storm, and she is all alone to struggle with the weird family and the scary goings on!
It is a very dark and twisty novel that will keep you guessing and page turning until the end!
November 3, 2025
I'm hoping for some Grade-A domestic psychological thriller shenanigans, and I got... well, a lot of forced atmospheric melodrama and narrative flimflam. The premise is deliciously preposterous: our protagonist, Bride-to-Be, gets shipped off to her fiancé Stephen’s ancestral lair, Shadowmoor Lodge, a place whose name is clearly lifted directly from a Scooby-Doo episode, six days before the wedding. It’s deep in the Surrey Hills, naturally, with zero signal, because of course the impending existential terror must be unfettered by basic cellular connectivity.
The first 50 pages are an absolute masterclass in anxiety-fueled projection. The heroine is drowning in this palpable dread, which, to be fair, is perfectly rational because Stephen’s family are pure, unadulterated nightmare fuel. His mother is a controlling harpy, and the whole clan stares at her like she’s a particularly juicy main course at a private hunting retreat. The atmosphere is so thick with malevolence you could spread it on toast. But then, the titular lie arrives: she opens her suitcase and finds clothes belonging to Charlotte Walker, a woman who conveniently vanished a week ago. This is where my internal monologue went from "ooh, creepy" to "oh, come on." The sheer implausibility of that specific piece of clothing swapping happening is a gaping maw of a plot hole that demanded I suspend not just disbelief, but my entire cognitive function.
The book is an absolute torrent of red herrings. Every character is a caricature of suspicion: the taciturn brother, the shifty maid, the overly polished fiancé, Stephen, who is clearly compensating for being an utterly insipid love interest by being menacing. The vocabulary is where this thing really tried to flex—the writing itself is polished, trying to give the psychological suspense a veneer of literary gravitas, but the plot mechanics are flimsy at best, built entirely on people refusing to have a single rational conversation. It’s like watching a train wreck where every passenger is actively throwing banana peels under the wheels.
Was it a fun, page-turning diversion? Sure. Was it a nuanced thriller? Honey, please. It’s the literary equivalent of a dramatic, high-contrast Instagram filter, looks good, but it's totally obscuring the flaws. I need my thrillers to be taut and logically inexorable, not reliant on characters having the observational skills of a potted plant.
#TheWeddingLies #NetGalley
The first 50 pages are an absolute masterclass in anxiety-fueled projection. The heroine is drowning in this palpable dread, which, to be fair, is perfectly rational because Stephen’s family are pure, unadulterated nightmare fuel. His mother is a controlling harpy, and the whole clan stares at her like she’s a particularly juicy main course at a private hunting retreat. The atmosphere is so thick with malevolence you could spread it on toast. But then, the titular lie arrives: she opens her suitcase and finds clothes belonging to Charlotte Walker, a woman who conveniently vanished a week ago. This is where my internal monologue went from "ooh, creepy" to "oh, come on." The sheer implausibility of that specific piece of clothing swapping happening is a gaping maw of a plot hole that demanded I suspend not just disbelief, but my entire cognitive function.
The book is an absolute torrent of red herrings. Every character is a caricature of suspicion: the taciturn brother, the shifty maid, the overly polished fiancé, Stephen, who is clearly compensating for being an utterly insipid love interest by being menacing. The vocabulary is where this thing really tried to flex—the writing itself is polished, trying to give the psychological suspense a veneer of literary gravitas, but the plot mechanics are flimsy at best, built entirely on people refusing to have a single rational conversation. It’s like watching a train wreck where every passenger is actively throwing banana peels under the wheels.
Was it a fun, page-turning diversion? Sure. Was it a nuanced thriller? Honey, please. It’s the literary equivalent of a dramatic, high-contrast Instagram filter, looks good, but it's totally obscuring the flaws. I need my thrillers to be taut and logically inexorable, not reliant on characters having the observational skills of a potted plant.
#TheWeddingLies #NetGalley
June 7, 2026
Too fictional
Just a totally rambling story. When I read a book I like to believe that at least some parts could be true. With this book it was one unbelievable mini plot to the next.
In one word - rubbish.
Just a totally rambling story. When I read a book I like to believe that at least some parts could be true. With this book it was one unbelievable mini plot to the next.
In one word - rubbish.
January 30, 2026
A really silly book!
So many plot holes, contradictions, things that didn’t make sense!
If Marcel did all this for the woman he loved then why didn’t he live with her? If they already had lots of grandchildren (who clearly looked after themselves in this book) why kill anyone who couldn’t conceive? Why the hell does Freya get off Scott free! She knew all about the monopoly game hence murders! Why was Ivy a total wet wipe? Yes she’s suffered a previous trauma but it sounds like she was a gullible nut job before that. I could go on, and on, however, this book kept me, if this was the authors first book or one of their first books then I think I’ll keep checking in on them because the imagination is definitely there for a good storyteller, I love storytellers not writers, there is a difference.
So many plot holes, contradictions, things that didn’t make sense!
If Marcel did all this for the woman he loved then why didn’t he live with her? If they already had lots of grandchildren (who clearly looked after themselves in this book) why kill anyone who couldn’t conceive? Why the hell does Freya get off Scott free! She knew all about the monopoly game hence murders! Why was Ivy a total wet wipe? Yes she’s suffered a previous trauma but it sounds like she was a gullible nut job before that. I could go on, and on, however, this book kept me, if this was the authors first book or one of their first books then I think I’ll keep checking in on them because the imagination is definitely there for a good storyteller, I love storytellers not writers, there is a difference.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2026
Most ridiculous book I ever read
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