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The Final Wife: Sie ist nicht die Erste. Doch sie wird die Letzte sein.
Eine kalte Herbstnacht in den Cotswolds. Als Detective Rebecca Dance das gepflegte Cottage des erfolgreichen Schönheitschirurgen Luke Whitney betritt, bietet sich ihr ein grauenvoller Anblick: Luke liegt erstochen am Boden, neben ihm kniet seine Ehefrau Anna, ihre Kleidung getränkt von seinem Blut. Der Fall scheint schnell gelöst, denn Anna gesteht die Tat sofort. Doch warum kann sie sich dann an kein Detail des Mordes erinnern? Je mehr Rebecca über das Opfer herausfindet, desto klarer wird ihr: Hinter der Kulisse dieser allzu perfekten Ehe verbergen sich dunkle Abgründe - und mehr als eine Frau hätte einen Grund gehabt, Luke Whitney zu töten ...
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2025
209 people are currently reading
1270 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 570 reviews
July 30, 2025
2⭐️
Two words: cliche and boring.
That basically summed up the entirety of this book.
It was an unoriginal take on the “horrible cheating husband turns up dead. Who’s at fault?’ plot line and I am so sick of seeing the same thing over and over and over again!! It’s a nice way to blindly pass time, but it’s not interesting enough to really grip you and keep you focused on the story. I’m begging an author to please write a story that is not like every other thriller out there. At some point there’s gotta be things to make a story stick out and this book just did not have that.
I didn’t really like much about this book. I didn’t like the characters besides the detective; she was okay. Emphasis on “okay” cause not much else stuck out besides her no nonsense attitude, but then again, isn’t that exactly like most books of this genre?
A majority of this book is just us being roped into going in circles and a backstory with so much information that we didn’t need to know. Everybody cheats on everybody, like there is no redeeming qualities to any of this. Getting to the end of the book was just a chore. At some points I felt like I was just kinda half-listening doing crafts and stuff simply to say that I was reading. If that doesn’t tell you enough about it, let me give you a brief overview:
Wife admits to killing husband.
One detective doesn’t believe her story.
We go in circles trying to figure out the truth.
Victim has a crazy ex-wife that gets investigated.
70% background stories that go in circles as well.
Truth comes out.
Boom there’s the plot. I mean, can ya’ll see where I’m coming from? 😭
What about this just screams a unique and twisty thriller?
Anyways, my overall thoughts are that this book was mediocre at best. I don’t really recommend this unless you’re someone who just enjoys a very simple vibe that’s a cut and paste thriller. After reading so many myself, I really crave something different and this just did not hit the mark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
While this has mid reviews, I still wanna give it a try since I liked the pervious Jenny Blackhurst audiobook I listened to! I’m not looking for anything groundbreaking, just a bit of twisty, thrilling fun, so I hope this delivers <3
Two words: cliche and boring.
That basically summed up the entirety of this book.
It was an unoriginal take on the “horrible cheating husband turns up dead. Who’s at fault?’ plot line and I am so sick of seeing the same thing over and over and over again!! It’s a nice way to blindly pass time, but it’s not interesting enough to really grip you and keep you focused on the story. I’m begging an author to please write a story that is not like every other thriller out there. At some point there’s gotta be things to make a story stick out and this book just did not have that.
I didn’t really like much about this book. I didn’t like the characters besides the detective; she was okay. Emphasis on “okay” cause not much else stuck out besides her no nonsense attitude, but then again, isn’t that exactly like most books of this genre?
A majority of this book is just us being roped into going in circles and a backstory with so much information that we didn’t need to know. Everybody cheats on everybody, like there is no redeeming qualities to any of this. Getting to the end of the book was just a chore. At some points I felt like I was just kinda half-listening doing crafts and stuff simply to say that I was reading. If that doesn’t tell you enough about it, let me give you a brief overview:
Wife admits to killing husband.
One detective doesn’t believe her story.
We go in circles trying to figure out the truth.
Victim has a crazy ex-wife that gets investigated.
70% background stories that go in circles as well.
Truth comes out.
Boom there’s the plot. I mean, can ya’ll see where I’m coming from? 😭
What about this just screams a unique and twisty thriller?
Anyways, my overall thoughts are that this book was mediocre at best. I don’t really recommend this unless you’re someone who just enjoys a very simple vibe that’s a cut and paste thriller. After reading so many myself, I really crave something different and this just did not hit the mark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
While this has mid reviews, I still wanna give it a try since I liked the pervious Jenny Blackhurst audiobook I listened to! I’m not looking for anything groundbreaking, just a bit of twisty, thrilling fun, so I hope this delivers <3
April 29, 2025
I dare you to guess what happens in the final chapter of "The Final Wife".
Yes, this twisty "who dunnit" murder mystery was pacey, character-driven, unputdownable, and unpredictable.
This Audible Plus freebie was expertly narrated by Rebecca Gethings, Victoria Blunt, Emily Joyce, Eleanor Bennett, and Nigel Pilkington.
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 5, 2025
Like some pedestrian BBC drama. Competently put together, but nothing shocking, revelatory, or even remotely gasp-worthy. Detectives are so clinical and boring, and the case being investigated was just your run of the mill “cheating husband winds up dead, whodunnit????”
April 7, 2025
Luke Whitney is found stabbed to death at a rural cottage. His second, and final wife, Anna, confesses to killing him. But detectives aren't convinced. There are holes in her story that you can drive a freight train through, there are lies, and there are seemingly easy details about the crime that she can't confirm. I mean, surely if you're going to stab your husband after a fight, you'd remember what the fight was about, right? (Probably threw his socks next to the laundry hamper instead of it in it.)
Luke was a narcissist. A manipulator. A liar. And above all, a serial cheater. In short, a total catch. Not. It seems that there could be quite the list of scorned and dumped women who might like to get their hands on him and hurt him fiercely. But murder? Did Anna kill her husband? Why is she so quick to confess? If she didn't, then who did and why is she protecting this person? Is it wife number one? Someone else? And why?
This is one of those books that is tough to review as it's an entertaining and okay read, but there's nothing about it that really stands out. I had a few niggles throughout as well. It seemed to lack some depth and I never really felt like I got a good handle on the women in Luke's life. I had a hard time with the wives and their attitudes towards this man who treated them like poo. The bargaining, the changing of their appearance, trying to do whatever it takes to make this loser happy when he couldn't even keep it in his trousers for five minutes. Luke wasn't a nice person, in case you hadn't realised that yet. That made it rather impossible to try and figure out whodunnit. It really could have been anyone who decided whatever he did or said was the last straw.
In hindsight, I would never have reached the correct conclusion anyway. At first it was definitely rather far-fetched. Then, true to form for this genre, there was a twist that turned things upside down again. And maybe I would have been okay if things were left done and dusted at that point. Unfortunately, the author decided on another angle and explanation that quite honestly had me rolling my eyes, I'm sorry to say. It's tough to explain without including massive spoilers. Sometimes, enough is just enough, and too much is just too much.
Up until that point though, I was rather enjoying 'The Final Wife'. It's undoubtedly full of intrigue and just like the detectives, the reader is trying to dig through the lies and find the truth. However, it needed that little bit more for me, and I would have liked it less twisty. But maybe that's just me.
Luke was a narcissist. A manipulator. A liar. And above all, a serial cheater. In short, a total catch. Not. It seems that there could be quite the list of scorned and dumped women who might like to get their hands on him and hurt him fiercely. But murder? Did Anna kill her husband? Why is she so quick to confess? If she didn't, then who did and why is she protecting this person? Is it wife number one? Someone else? And why?
This is one of those books that is tough to review as it's an entertaining and okay read, but there's nothing about it that really stands out. I had a few niggles throughout as well. It seemed to lack some depth and I never really felt like I got a good handle on the women in Luke's life. I had a hard time with the wives and their attitudes towards this man who treated them like poo. The bargaining, the changing of their appearance, trying to do whatever it takes to make this loser happy when he couldn't even keep it in his trousers for five minutes. Luke wasn't a nice person, in case you hadn't realised that yet. That made it rather impossible to try and figure out whodunnit. It really could have been anyone who decided whatever he did or said was the last straw.
In hindsight, I would never have reached the correct conclusion anyway. At first it was definitely rather far-fetched. Then, true to form for this genre, there was a twist that turned things upside down again. And maybe I would have been okay if things were left done and dusted at that point. Unfortunately, the author decided on another angle and explanation that quite honestly had me rolling my eyes, I'm sorry to say. It's tough to explain without including massive spoilers. Sometimes, enough is just enough, and too much is just too much.
Up until that point though, I was rather enjoying 'The Final Wife'. It's undoubtedly full of intrigue and just like the detectives, the reader is trying to dig through the lies and find the truth. However, it needed that little bit more for me, and I would have liked it less twisty. But maybe that's just me.
May 16, 2025
I felt like the last few chapters were unnecessary and the book would have made more of an impact if it had been left ambiguous towards how exactly Luke was murdered. I think if it had ended when Anna, Rose and Pippa were at his funeral that would have been a better choice, as this would have left it up to imagination who had stabbed him. Some things are just better unsaid sometimes 🤷♀️.
I did enjoy the split narrative especially with Anna’s POV as a kid, this definitely added depth to the book. And I loved how many woman leads there were.
However, I thought throwing in a connection between Laura and Kim in the last chapter was random and a lazy grab at a plot twist.
I did enjoy the split narrative especially with Anna’s POV as a kid, this definitely added depth to the book. And I loved how many woman leads there were.
However, I thought throwing in a connection between Laura and Kim in the last chapter was random and a lazy grab at a plot twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2025
Luke Whitney is stabbed to death. His wife Anna confesses after she is found next to his lifeless body....
This was a trip! Even though I figured it out before it was revealed, getting there was interesting. And that twist at the end......that one I never saw coming.
This was a trip! Even though I figured it out before it was revealed, getting there was interesting. And that twist at the end......that one I never saw coming.
May 5, 2025
I absolutely loved this book, and it was even included in my Audible membership! I love it when that happens.
The story starts with Anna confessing to killing her husband, but something isn't right. Anna cannot give the police any details about what actually happened.
What follows is a perfectly plotted tale that slowly unravels, with twists that just keep coming.
Satisfying thrillers are very rare, but this one definitely hits the spot.
The story starts with Anna confessing to killing her husband, but something isn't right. Anna cannot give the police any details about what actually happened.
What follows is a perfectly plotted tale that slowly unravels, with twists that just keep coming.
Satisfying thrillers are very rare, but this one definitely hits the spot.
June 30, 2025
This book is just fair for me. Now, don't get me wrong, it was entertaining! It just didn't wow me, and I don't see it being memorable.
May 2, 2025
Story all over the place. I hate that kind of writing where it is getting back and forth and narrated by umpteens people. Tried to read it, didn't like it. DNF.
May 10, 2025
Fab read with a great plot twist at the very end
May 17, 2025
Sure I enjoyed the writing style — but I don’t always appreciate thrillers where it’s “twisty” because they’re just throwing random facts at you at the last minute, hence the lower score
October 17, 2025
Meh.
There's something about the writing style in this novel with 80% female characters that felt misogynistic and strangely homogenous. Aside from the fact that I think every single character was probably white (and blonde), none of the characters in this novel read as intelligent to me. Even the great reveal at the end didn't dissuade me from this impression. All of the women seemed to lack ambition and their lives revolved around the shitty men in their lives.
The writing style, misogyny and vapid characters aside, wasn't nearly as charming as I think the writer thought it was. There's (too many) multiple POVs and they all somehow felt the same to me. A for effort, I guess? I wonder sometimes if it's even possible to write mystery/thrillers that feel new and exciting any more. As far as "twists" go, this one just reveals the idiocy of the entire police department. Not so much characters being clever as much as it was police being horrible at actually doing their jobs.
Not a recommend from me. No aspect of this was memorable to me personally.
There's something about the writing style in this novel with 80% female characters that felt misogynistic and strangely homogenous. Aside from the fact that I think every single character was probably white (and blonde), none of the characters in this novel read as intelligent to me. Even the great reveal at the end didn't dissuade me from this impression. All of the women seemed to lack ambition and their lives revolved around the shitty men in their lives.
The writing style, misogyny and vapid characters aside, wasn't nearly as charming as I think the writer thought it was. There's (too many) multiple POVs and they all somehow felt the same to me. A for effort, I guess? I wonder sometimes if it's even possible to write mystery/thrillers that feel new and exciting any more. As far as "twists" go, this one just reveals the idiocy of the entire police department. Not so much characters being clever as much as it was police being horrible at actually doing their jobs.
Not a recommend from me. No aspect of this was memorable to me personally.
December 28, 2025
Eine kalte Herbstnacht in den Cotswolds, ein toter Schönheitschirurg und eine Ehefrau, die gesteht – aber sich an nichts erinnern kann. Genau mit diesem starken Einstieg hat mich das neue Buch der Autorin sofort gepackt. Da ich bereits mehrere Bücher von ihr kenne, war meine Erwartung entsprechend hoch – und größtenteils wurde sie erfüllt.
Die Geschichte wird aus mehreren Perspektiven erzählt: aus Annas Sicht, aus der der Exfrau und aus der von Detective Rebecca Dance. Gerade dieser Perspektivwechsel hat mir sehr gut gefallen, weil man dadurch tief in das Geschehen eintaucht und ständig neue Blickwinkel bekommt. Wahrheit und Lüge verschwimmen, man bekommt immer nur einzelne Puzzleteile serviert und ist permanent am Miträtseln. Ich hatte nie das Gefühl, der Geschichte voraus zu sein – im Gegenteil, ich habe meine Meinung über Figuren mehr als einmal geändert.
Die Spannung ist durchgehend präsent, ohne überzogen zu wirken, und es gibt einige Wendungen, die die Handlung immer wieder in eine neue Richtung lenken. Besonders gelungen fand ich, wie nach und nach die Fassade dieser scheinbar perfekten Ehe bröckelt und dunkle Abgründe sichtbar werden. Die Auflösung ist schlüssig und rund, auch wenn sie mich nicht komplett umgehauen hat – daher kein volles Highlight, aber definitiv ein sehr solider Thriller.
Insgesamt ist es für mich ein richtig guter, spannender Thriller, den man kaum aus der Hand legen möchte und den ich Thriller-Fans auf jeden Fall empfehlen kann.
Die Geschichte wird aus mehreren Perspektiven erzählt: aus Annas Sicht, aus der der Exfrau und aus der von Detective Rebecca Dance. Gerade dieser Perspektivwechsel hat mir sehr gut gefallen, weil man dadurch tief in das Geschehen eintaucht und ständig neue Blickwinkel bekommt. Wahrheit und Lüge verschwimmen, man bekommt immer nur einzelne Puzzleteile serviert und ist permanent am Miträtseln. Ich hatte nie das Gefühl, der Geschichte voraus zu sein – im Gegenteil, ich habe meine Meinung über Figuren mehr als einmal geändert.
Die Spannung ist durchgehend präsent, ohne überzogen zu wirken, und es gibt einige Wendungen, die die Handlung immer wieder in eine neue Richtung lenken. Besonders gelungen fand ich, wie nach und nach die Fassade dieser scheinbar perfekten Ehe bröckelt und dunkle Abgründe sichtbar werden. Die Auflösung ist schlüssig und rund, auch wenn sie mich nicht komplett umgehauen hat – daher kein volles Highlight, aber definitiv ein sehr solider Thriller.
Insgesamt ist es für mich ein richtig guter, spannender Thriller, den man kaum aus der Hand legen möchte und den ich Thriller-Fans auf jeden Fall empfehlen kann.
June 18, 2025
Luke Whitney is stabbed to death. When police arrive on the scene, he's wife, Anna, confess to killing him. But her story is full of holes and police are soon sure she is not the murderer, but who is she protecting? The list of people with a really good reason to kill Luke is also growing.
This started off with so much promise. I initially enjoyed the story, why would Anna confess so willingly to a crime she did not commit? Who eventually got to this cheating, ghosting slime ball?
And that really is where I lost interest a little. There are a line of women just willing to change everything about themselves to hold onto a guy that really cannot keep it in his pants.
Then, what is fast become my pet peeve, so many twists. It is not possible to guess the outcome because it is really that far fetched, and then, right at the end, still shaking my head a little, another little circle, just a bit to much.
An enjoyable read but not one that will stay with me.
This started off with so much promise. I initially enjoyed the story, why would Anna confess so willingly to a crime she did not commit? Who eventually got to this cheating, ghosting slime ball?
And that really is where I lost interest a little. There are a line of women just willing to change everything about themselves to hold onto a guy that really cannot keep it in his pants.
Then, what is fast become my pet peeve, so many twists. It is not possible to guess the outcome because it is really that far fetched, and then, right at the end, still shaking my head a little, another little circle, just a bit to much.
An enjoyable read but not one that will stay with me.
March 25, 2025
Plastic surgeon Luke Whitney is stabbed to death and his wife Anna confesses to his murder. Surely its case closed, but DS Rebecca Dance is convinced that Anna is lying, to find out why she believes this you'll have to read this latest twisted novel by Jenny Blackhurst.
I liked the characters, the detectives worked well together, I wonder if they will feature in future novels. The novel is fast paced and intriguing.
I liked the characters, the detectives worked well together, I wonder if they will feature in future novels. The novel is fast paced and intriguing.
September 12, 2025
Reading books of this genre is actually new to me but is opening up a whole new TBR list, though I’m sure the books I’ve read so far would fall into a mystery lite subcategory if there were such a thing. Can’t have anything too scary though.
I enjoyed this book on Audible enough. It wasn’t action packed, thrilling, nor exciting, but the twisty ending of did she or didn’t she kill her husband and if not, who did? made the hours spent listening to it totally worthwhile. I just wish it had been more engaging throughout.
I enjoyed this book on Audible enough. It wasn’t action packed, thrilling, nor exciting, but the twisty ending of did she or didn’t she kill her husband and if not, who did? made the hours spent listening to it totally worthwhile. I just wish it had been more engaging throughout.
August 13, 2025
Wow! I love mixed media books and different perspectives… the face this is a murder story from police view to suspect 1 and suspect 2 then the twists and the ending! Absolutely inhaled this and so glad I’ve found this author now!
May 14, 2025
Pretty entertaining, I liked the ending! Love me a good murder mystery.
May 18, 2025
My misandrist soul has been fed
July 10, 2025
This book started off slow for me. It was interesting enough for me to keep reading, but as I kept reading it became more and more interesting. The twist and turns that kept on happening was great! It was soo good! Towards the end I could not put this book down.
September 25, 2025
Appalling. Lost interest, dragging and boring. dislikeable characters. Plot all over the place. Avoid!!
December 28, 2025
3.45 ⭐️
This story was definitely full of twists and turns. There were so many twists that it often was difficult to keep up. Felt a bit overdone at times.
This story was definitely full of twists and turns. There were so many twists that it often was difficult to keep up. Felt a bit overdone at times.
September 9, 2025
Pretty good, exactly what you’d expect from reading the blurb
January 19, 2026
My first audio book. Took some getting used to, but the story was good and quite the twist at the end!
October 30, 2025
Interesting enough but very predictable.
If you’re into high society rich games then sure this is for you but overall not my particular genre
If you’re into high society rich games then sure this is for you but overall not my particular genre
June 9, 2025
I enjoyed this! It was a surprising twist I didn’t see coming.
July 21, 2025
i liked the audible having multiple british narrators was kind of fun, but tbh the plot seemed so unrealistic that i can’t rate this super high but there was some good twists so a solid 3.
September 11, 2025
Maybe it was because I listened to it or maybe it was the back and forth and so many names throughout the story I lost track of who was sleeping with him and who was sleeping with her and who was just a decoy or mistress…. Idk but I was super confused who Pip was, Laura I’m not sure either. Or maybe it’s Sam I don’t know?
I do know it was a group effort murder and not a single person of interest. That’s about all I got out of it. 🤷🏻♀️ Was a good filler while working but definitely didn’t stay too engaged to know who the brains of the operation was. Whose urn was that in the end?!
Oy. It’s a good filler. Definitely a thinker. Probably easier to read rather than listen to someone change their voice just a tad for each character. Maybe that’s why I got lost lol one individual should not be portraying 6 females and a few males in a story…. Especially when the voice is monotoned.
3stars because it kept me engaged enough to see it to the end.
I do know it was a group effort murder and not a single person of interest. That’s about all I got out of it. 🤷🏻♀️ Was a good filler while working but definitely didn’t stay too engaged to know who the brains of the operation was. Whose urn was that in the end?!
Oy. It’s a good filler. Definitely a thinker. Probably easier to read rather than listen to someone change their voice just a tad for each character. Maybe that’s why I got lost lol one individual should not be portraying 6 females and a few males in a story…. Especially when the voice is monotoned.
3stars because it kept me engaged enough to see it to the end.
May 26, 2025
4.5/5.
I absolutely loved this. The narration was top tier, and the way the story and the character’s lives unfolded was so interesting. I did not see any aspects of the last third happening. The twists were twisting!
The .5 stars off of perfect is for the detective’s drug dealer boyfriend and that lame plot point. It felt quite unnecessary in light of everything at the end.
I absolutely loved this. The narration was top tier, and the way the story and the character’s lives unfolded was so interesting. I did not see any aspects of the last third happening. The twists were twisting!
The .5 stars off of perfect is for the detective’s drug dealer boyfriend and that lame plot point. It felt quite unnecessary in light of everything at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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