What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wives of Murder Club
The first rule of Murder Club? Don't trust the other wives.
Marta and her true-crime book club escape to remote Snakebite Island for a long weekend of rosé, late-night confessions, and obsessive discussions about serial killers. No husbands. No responsibilities. Just four friends and a shared love of dark stories.
Until one of them turns up dead on the shore. Murdered.
They should call the police. But they can't. An investigation would expose everything the group has been hiding - including a husband who has mysteriously vanished.
Instead, they stage the perfect disappearance. After all, they know how these stories work. They've read hundreds of them.
But real life isn't a podcast or a paperback thriller. And the deeper Marta gets into the cover-up, the more she realises one terrifying truth: someone on Snakebite Island is a killer. And they're willing to do it again.
Marta and her true-crime book club escape to remote Snakebite Island for a long weekend of rosé, late-night confessions, and obsessive discussions about serial killers. No husbands. No responsibilities. Just four friends and a shared love of dark stories.
Until one of them turns up dead on the shore. Murdered.
They should call the police. But they can't. An investigation would expose everything the group has been hiding - including a husband who has mysteriously vanished.
Instead, they stage the perfect disappearance. After all, they know how these stories work. They've read hundreds of them.
But real life isn't a podcast or a paperback thriller. And the deeper Marta gets into the cover-up, the more she realises one terrifying truth: someone on Snakebite Island is a killer. And they're willing to do it again.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 25, 2026
If you are looking for your next popcorn thriller, look no further! This is my first book by Emma C. Wells and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book!
Four female friends escape to an island for a weekend getaway. Each woman bearing her own dark secrets.
1 missing husband
1 friend dead
secrets
lies
unreliable narrators
check, check, check!
There's a killer on the island, is it one of them?
If you are willing to suspend a little bit of reality and just be along for the ride, this was a fun one! However, I must say that I am glad my friends are NOT like these women! ;)
A solid 4 stars!
Four female friends escape to an island for a weekend getaway. Each woman bearing her own dark secrets.
1 missing husband
1 friend dead
secrets
lies
unreliable narrators
check, check, check!
There's a killer on the island, is it one of them?
If you are willing to suspend a little bit of reality and just be along for the ride, this was a fun one! However, I must say that I am glad my friends are NOT like these women! ;)
A solid 4 stars!
June 13, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Wives of the Murder Club by Emma White was an absolutely wild ride and one of those books where the drama is just as juicy as the mystery.
When four friends head off on a girls’ weekend, things quickly spiral out of control after one of them ends up dead. We also have a missing husband, an affair, and a suspicious workplace death, and the secrets start unraveling at an alarming pace.
This ARC had me hooked because it felt like Desperate Housewives collided with The Real Housewives franchise in the best possible way. Every time I thought I had figured out who was the most toxic person in the group, someone else would do something even worse. Seriously—who needs enemies when you have friends like these?
The characters are messy, manipulative, and morally gray, which made for incredibly entertaining reading. While I guessed a few things along the way, I was still completely invested in watching all the lies, betrayals, and secrets come crashing down.
If you love domestic thrillers packed with friendship drama, scandal, backstabbing, and characters you love to hate, this one is definitely worth picking up. A fun, addictive, and delightfully chaotic read. 📚🔪
The Wives of the Murder Club by Emma White was an absolutely wild ride and one of those books where the drama is just as juicy as the mystery.
When four friends head off on a girls’ weekend, things quickly spiral out of control after one of them ends up dead. We also have a missing husband, an affair, and a suspicious workplace death, and the secrets start unraveling at an alarming pace.
This ARC had me hooked because it felt like Desperate Housewives collided with The Real Housewives franchise in the best possible way. Every time I thought I had figured out who was the most toxic person in the group, someone else would do something even worse. Seriously—who needs enemies when you have friends like these?
The characters are messy, manipulative, and morally gray, which made for incredibly entertaining reading. While I guessed a few things along the way, I was still completely invested in watching all the lies, betrayals, and secrets come crashing down.
If you love domestic thrillers packed with friendship drama, scandal, backstabbing, and characters you love to hate, this one is definitely worth picking up. A fun, addictive, and delightfully chaotic read. 📚🔪
May 30, 2026
This book was very entertaining. I’m not typically a fan of more than 2 povs, but this author did it well.
This group of four “friends” was so toxic.
The plot was mysterious, thrilling and twisty. .
The characters…
Imogen is high maintenance
Bernie is a nut job
Celeste is cringye, blunt and abrasive
Marta is a people pleasing push over
What a group. So much drama. Grab the popcorn.
- secrets/lies
- toxic friendships
- bookclub mamas
- podcast intertwined
- murder, mystery
- twisty
- cheating
This group of four “friends” was so toxic.
The plot was mysterious, thrilling and twisty. .
The characters…
Imogen is high maintenance
Bernie is a nut job
Celeste is cringye, blunt and abrasive
Marta is a people pleasing push over
What a group. So much drama. Grab the popcorn.
- secrets/lies
- toxic friendships
- bookclub mamas
- podcast intertwined
- murder, mystery
- twisty
- cheating
July 16, 2026
Really enjoyed listening to this over audio book, I think the narration is the main reason for the 4 stars, it gave so much life to the characters and the podcast chapters in between. Was definitely a fun one to get into after listen for the lie
July 5, 2026
Daytime TV drama overload!
My, oh my, this has nothing on Desperate Housewives. What a twisted cast of women and their evil scheming brains. The book definitely has movie-style writing but was solid enough to whizz through and still enjoy.
No literary masterpiece, but great escapist suburbia-crime.
My, oh my, this has nothing on Desperate Housewives. What a twisted cast of women and their evil scheming brains. The book definitely has movie-style writing but was solid enough to whizz through and still enjoy.
No literary masterpiece, but great escapist suburbia-crime.
June 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Embla books for an ARC of this in exchange for my honest views.
I really enjoyed this book, and found it a really easy quick read. That’s not to say it didn’t have intrigue and some good twists, though a couple were a little obvious from early on, this didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. None of the characters were particularly likeable, but once you get into the narrative, this isn’t a bad thing as you feel they get what is coming to them. Overall I really liked this one.
I really enjoyed this book, and found it a really easy quick read. That’s not to say it didn’t have intrigue and some good twists, though a couple were a little obvious from early on, this didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. None of the characters were particularly likeable, but once you get into the narrative, this isn’t a bad thing as you feel they get what is coming to them. Overall I really liked this one.
June 18, 2026
This book gets crazy about halfway through. It’s about a true crime book club that goes on a weekend retreat. The problem with going on a retreat with your book club is that you probably shouldn’t do that when all of you have secrets you would kill for. As far as the characters, wow, none of them are that likeable and I think that’s by choice. Trying to figure out what everyone’s secrets were took some time. But if you’re a fan of multi POV thrillers don’t miss this one. This is out now.
September 10, 2026
4⭐️ I would absolutely not want any of these women as my friends. The Murder Mamas Book Club is a group of 4 "friends" whose book club solely reads thriller themed books. The book is told in 4 different POVs from the 4 women. The book is built up to the point the women attend their annual Book Club retreat and things take a turn for the worst. This book really drew me in and the women are crazy but it made for a good book!!
August 21, 2026
This was such a quick, fun read. Exactly what I’m looking for (and don’t get) when I pick up a Freida McFadden.
Four friends in a book club have organized an island holiday together, but by the time it rolls around, tensions are high with one missing husband, financial issues, and a genuine psychopath in the mix!
Short choppy chapters in multiple pov. I flew through this one. Such a relief after my previous “slumpy” read.
Four friends in a book club have organized an island holiday together, but by the time it rolls around, tensions are high with one missing husband, financial issues, and a genuine psychopath in the mix!
Short choppy chapters in multiple pov. I flew through this one. Such a relief after my previous “slumpy” read.
June 17, 2026
The Wives of Murder Club is a deliciously messy, compulsively readable thriller — the kind that drops you onto a remote island with four women who call themselves friends, even though every one of them is quietly sharpening a knife. Emma White captures that intoxicating blend of loyalty, rivalry, and simmering resentment so well that you can almost taste the tension in the air.
Marta and her true‑crime‑obsessed book club head to Snakebite Island expecting rosé, gossip, and a weekend of dark stories. Instead, one of them washes up dead on the shore, and the group’s first instinct isn’t to call the police — it’s to cover their tracks. They’ve read enough murder stories to think they can script the perfect disappearance, but real life refuses to follow the rules of a paperback thriller.
What unfolds is a wonderfully chaotic tangle of secrets, shifting alliances, and the creeping realisation that one of them is a killer… and perfectly willing to strike again. The multiple POVs add texture and bite, each woman revealing just enough to keep you guessing while never quite earning your trust.
It’s sharp, addictive, and full of that “just one more chapter” energy — a toxic‑friendship thriller where every character is a little awful, a little compelling, and absolutely hiding something.
A twisty, drama‑soaked escape to an island where no one is innocent and everyone has something to lose. Perfect for readers who love their thrillers with bite, backstabbing, and a book club you’d never dare join.
With thanks to Emma White, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Marta and her true‑crime‑obsessed book club head to Snakebite Island expecting rosé, gossip, and a weekend of dark stories. Instead, one of them washes up dead on the shore, and the group’s first instinct isn’t to call the police — it’s to cover their tracks. They’ve read enough murder stories to think they can script the perfect disappearance, but real life refuses to follow the rules of a paperback thriller.
What unfolds is a wonderfully chaotic tangle of secrets, shifting alliances, and the creeping realisation that one of them is a killer… and perfectly willing to strike again. The multiple POVs add texture and bite, each woman revealing just enough to keep you guessing while never quite earning your trust.
It’s sharp, addictive, and full of that “just one more chapter” energy — a toxic‑friendship thriller where every character is a little awful, a little compelling, and absolutely hiding something.
A twisty, drama‑soaked escape to an island where no one is innocent and everyone has something to lose. Perfect for readers who love their thrillers with bite, backstabbing, and a book club you’d never dare join.
With thanks to Emma White, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
June 5, 2026
The first rule of Murder Club? Don’t trust the other wives!
Marta, Imogen, Bertie and Celeste are all part of a true-crime book club. When their annual book weekend finds them escaping to a remote island - ‘Snakebite Island’ - they think it’s going to be all rosé, late-night confessions and discussions about their latest books. There will be no husbands, children or responsibilities. Until one of them turns up dead on the shore. Murdered.
They know they should call the police, but they can’t. An investigation would highlight the dark secrets within each of their lives. So instead, they plan the ‘perfect disappearance’. After all, they are all well versed in real crime and have read hundreds of books! But real life isn’t a thriller book … and as they get deeper into the cover up, they realise one terrifying truth: one of the group murdered their friend, and they would be very willing to do it again …
A quick, easy and entertaining read with good, developed characters and lots of twists. The friendship group is clearly very complex, fractured and dysfunctional and I’m not sure any of them actually liked each other 😂 they each had their own baggage and it was all told very well throughout the story. A good amount of drama, believable elements and secrets, lies and an intertwining parallel podcast, which in the beginning feels a little out of place, but cleverly links as the book moves on!
Thank you to NetGalley, Embla Books and Emma White for the ARC of this book.
Marta, Imogen, Bertie and Celeste are all part of a true-crime book club. When their annual book weekend finds them escaping to a remote island - ‘Snakebite Island’ - they think it’s going to be all rosé, late-night confessions and discussions about their latest books. There will be no husbands, children or responsibilities. Until one of them turns up dead on the shore. Murdered.
They know they should call the police, but they can’t. An investigation would highlight the dark secrets within each of their lives. So instead, they plan the ‘perfect disappearance’. After all, they are all well versed in real crime and have read hundreds of books! But real life isn’t a thriller book … and as they get deeper into the cover up, they realise one terrifying truth: one of the group murdered their friend, and they would be very willing to do it again …
A quick, easy and entertaining read with good, developed characters and lots of twists. The friendship group is clearly very complex, fractured and dysfunctional and I’m not sure any of them actually liked each other 😂 they each had their own baggage and it was all told very well throughout the story. A good amount of drama, believable elements and secrets, lies and an intertwining parallel podcast, which in the beginning feels a little out of place, but cleverly links as the book moves on!
Thank you to NetGalley, Embla Books and Emma White for the ARC of this book.
October 16, 2026
These wives have more to hide than their book club picks!
4.0 stars
A true-crime book club heading to a remote island for a weekend away sounded like trouble waiting to happen, and that setup drew me right in. Add a murdered friend and a group of women with secrets they can’t afford to have exposed, and there is plenty to keep things interesting!
I enjoyed the mix of mystery and drama. These women share a love of true crime, but dealing with a murder themselves puts that knowledge—and their friendships—to the test. Calling the police should be the obvious next step. For this group, though, an investigation could uncover far more than what happened on the island.
The complicated friendships are a big part of the story. There is so much going on beneath the surface, and being part of the same book club certainly doesn’t mean these women can trust each other. Their secrets give them reasons to keep quiet, but keeping quiet comes with its own problems. It makes for a messy situation that gets more interesting as the story unfolds.
The isolated setting works well with all that tension. What starts as a weekend of wine and talking about crime becomes something much darker, with consequences that reach beyond the getaway. If you enjoy thrillers with strained friendships, hidden secrets, and plenty of personal drama alongside the mystery, this is a good one to pick up. A solid 4.0 stars!
4.0 stars
A true-crime book club heading to a remote island for a weekend away sounded like trouble waiting to happen, and that setup drew me right in. Add a murdered friend and a group of women with secrets they can’t afford to have exposed, and there is plenty to keep things interesting!
I enjoyed the mix of mystery and drama. These women share a love of true crime, but dealing with a murder themselves puts that knowledge—and their friendships—to the test. Calling the police should be the obvious next step. For this group, though, an investigation could uncover far more than what happened on the island.
The complicated friendships are a big part of the story. There is so much going on beneath the surface, and being part of the same book club certainly doesn’t mean these women can trust each other. Their secrets give them reasons to keep quiet, but keeping quiet comes with its own problems. It makes for a messy situation that gets more interesting as the story unfolds.
The isolated setting works well with all that tension. What starts as a weekend of wine and talking about crime becomes something much darker, with consequences that reach beyond the getaway. If you enjoy thrillers with strained friendships, hidden secrets, and plenty of personal drama alongside the mystery, this is a good one to pick up. A solid 4.0 stars!
May 29, 2026
The Wives of Murder Club about 3.7⭐️’s.
Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for the ARC, and thank you to Emma White for the opportunity to read and review this one!
Every woman in the club brought their own baggage, tension, and personality clashes to the table. At times it honestly felt like they barely even liked each other, and every small irritation turned into a chain reaction of passive-aggressive moodiness. The dynamics were messy, uncomfortable, and sometimes frustrating but I think that was also part of the point.
What I did enjoy was the whole book club getaway setting. There’s just something fun about taking a group of women with secrets, tension, and complicated friendships and trapping them together for a trip where things slowly start unraveling. The twists and turns throughout the story definitely kept things interesting, even when the characters themselves tested my patience.
“If there was ever a group of women that could get away with murder, this would be it.”
This wasn’t a warm-and-fuzzy friendship story by any means. It leaned much more into dysfunctional relationships, hidden resentments, and simmering drama. While I didn’t fully connect with all the characters (especially Bernie) I was still super curious enough to keep turning the pages to see how everything would unfold.
Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for the ARC, and thank you to Emma White for the opportunity to read and review this one!
Every woman in the club brought their own baggage, tension, and personality clashes to the table. At times it honestly felt like they barely even liked each other, and every small irritation turned into a chain reaction of passive-aggressive moodiness. The dynamics were messy, uncomfortable, and sometimes frustrating but I think that was also part of the point.
What I did enjoy was the whole book club getaway setting. There’s just something fun about taking a group of women with secrets, tension, and complicated friendships and trapping them together for a trip where things slowly start unraveling. The twists and turns throughout the story definitely kept things interesting, even when the characters themselves tested my patience.
“If there was ever a group of women that could get away with murder, this would be it.”
This wasn’t a warm-and-fuzzy friendship story by any means. It leaned much more into dysfunctional relationships, hidden resentments, and simmering drama. While I didn’t fully connect with all the characters (especially Bernie) I was still super curious enough to keep turning the pages to see how everything would unfold.
June 22, 2026
The Wives of Murder Club by Emma White deals with Imogen, Celeste, Marta, and Bernie; four suburban women who get together once a week for “the Murder Mamas”, a book club where they discuss True Crime books and fiction. However, things take a turn when the police come knocking. And one of the Mamas is involved…
Fair warning, if you’re someone that needs likable characters to enjoy a book, you’re better off reading something else. The Murder Mamas are petty, self-serving, judgmental, scheming, and murderous; all under a pretense supported by false smiles and underhanded compliments. There’s no sorority, one here to root for, and not much of a plot either.
But if you’re in for the “drama”, oh boy, does this book deliver! Showing the ugly and nasty side, and the subterfuge of “friendly” relationships.
Also, while I usually don’t talk about what edition I read, huge props to the actors doing the voices for the Filthy Funds sections. While the writing itself also deserves praise for how it was made, making it feel as if it was a real podcast and the hosts had some degree of chemistry between them, it was the actor’s performance what really knocked it out of the park.
Overall, had a fun time with this book, though won’t deny that I would have preferred if the meat and potatoes of the story started sooner than it did.
Fair warning, if you’re someone that needs likable characters to enjoy a book, you’re better off reading something else. The Murder Mamas are petty, self-serving, judgmental, scheming, and murderous; all under a pretense supported by false smiles and underhanded compliments. There’s no sorority, one here to root for, and not much of a plot either.
But if you’re in for the “drama”, oh boy, does this book deliver! Showing the ugly and nasty side, and the subterfuge of “friendly” relationships.
Also, while I usually don’t talk about what edition I read, huge props to the actors doing the voices for the Filthy Funds sections. While the writing itself also deserves praise for how it was made, making it feel as if it was a real podcast and the hosts had some degree of chemistry between them, it was the actor’s performance what really knocked it out of the park.
Overall, had a fun time with this book, though won’t deny that I would have preferred if the meat and potatoes of the story started sooner than it did.
July 6, 2026
Marta, Imogen, Celeste and Bernie - 4 friends who meet each month for their true crime book club, the Murder Mamas. But how well do they really know each other?
When the Murder Mamas escape to the remote Snakebite Island for a weekend away, it should be the perfect chance to relax and discuss their latest book.
Until one of the women is found murdered! They quickly realise that going to the police isn’t an option, as each woman has a reason to avoid the scrutiny. Luckily, they all know the best ways to stage a perfect disappearance and avoid being incriminated…
This was a really fun thriller! The story was told from the POV of each of the four women, who were very different and all very flawed in their own ways! Marta was the only really likeable one but then I sort of loved how awful Imogen and Celeste were, and couldn’t help liking Bernie in a very odd way! 🤣
Interspersed between the chapters were also excerpts from Marta’s favourite podcast - Filthy Funds - delving into the world of white-collar crimes, which added a change of pace and an intriguing mystery.
It was impossible to know who to trust with these women, and it became delightfully twisty as the truths began being revealed! Very enjoyable!
When the Murder Mamas escape to the remote Snakebite Island for a weekend away, it should be the perfect chance to relax and discuss their latest book.
Until one of the women is found murdered! They quickly realise that going to the police isn’t an option, as each woman has a reason to avoid the scrutiny. Luckily, they all know the best ways to stage a perfect disappearance and avoid being incriminated…
This was a really fun thriller! The story was told from the POV of each of the four women, who were very different and all very flawed in their own ways! Marta was the only really likeable one but then I sort of loved how awful Imogen and Celeste were, and couldn’t help liking Bernie in a very odd way! 🤣
Interspersed between the chapters were also excerpts from Marta’s favourite podcast - Filthy Funds - delving into the world of white-collar crimes, which added a change of pace and an intriguing mystery.
It was impossible to know who to trust with these women, and it became delightfully twisty as the truths began being revealed! Very enjoyable!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an entertaining and easy read. Four friends have a true crime murder book club, they have a vacation together on an island and one of them ends up dead. All seem to have some secrets or reasons why they don't want anybody investigating their lives so they don't want to call the police. They think they know enough about how to get away or cover up a crime. It seems they know something about crimes already from experience. I love True Crime stories and watching documentaries and being this story was about toxic friendships, murder, crimes and secrets it was interesting to me. The story is told from the different points of views of the friends along with transcripts from Filthy Funds show. The story was a little slower paced or a little delayed in the main premise of the story as the murder of the friend didn't take place until about the mid point of the book. I did think in my mind that this story reminded me of reality shows on TV or could make an interesting murder mystery show on TV. Thank you Netgalley and Embla books for the complimentary copy of the story.
June 12, 2026
Ok, this book was so good!
4 friends, members of the Murder Mamas Book Club, take a weekend vacation at a secluded cabin on an isolated island, where one friend winds up dead.
I don't know how to review this without giving too much away, but there are so many lies, so much deception, so many secrets and betrayals, so much murder and cover-up, and so much toxicity and backstabbing and cattiness that this book just doesn't stop giving "just one more page" energy from page one.
I also liked that it had mostly Canadian references. I loved that I knew the places and murders and books they spoke about.
I will definitely be buying a copy of this book for my personal library and definitely recommend it to other readers.
My only complaint is that though this book did end at the perfect spot, I really wish there was more.
This is an author I will be keeping an eye on!
On a side note, this book is also titled Venom Lake.
Thank you to Netgalley, Embla Books, and Emma White for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
4 friends, members of the Murder Mamas Book Club, take a weekend vacation at a secluded cabin on an isolated island, where one friend winds up dead.
I don't know how to review this without giving too much away, but there are so many lies, so much deception, so many secrets and betrayals, so much murder and cover-up, and so much toxicity and backstabbing and cattiness that this book just doesn't stop giving "just one more page" energy from page one.
I also liked that it had mostly Canadian references. I loved that I knew the places and murders and books they spoke about.
I will definitely be buying a copy of this book for my personal library and definitely recommend it to other readers.
My only complaint is that though this book did end at the perfect spot, I really wish there was more.
This is an author I will be keeping an eye on!
On a side note, this book is also titled Venom Lake.
Thank you to Netgalley, Embla Books, and Emma White for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Embla, for an advanced reader copy of The Wives of Murder Club in exchange for an honest review.
To summarize this book in once sentence, I would say 'The Wives of Murder Club' is about the kind of friends you love to hate...and hate to admit you’d probably still grab brunch with.
Emma White serves up a deliciously messy cocktail of loyalty, rivalry, and razor‑edged friendship. The women at the center of this story are the type who will show up to support you… but also quietly sharpen the knife behind your back. That tension—between affection and betrayal—makes the book compulsively readable.
The drama is high, the secrets are plentiful, and the shifting alliances keep things lively. It’s the perfect pick if you enjoy stories where every character is a little morally questionable and no one’s hands are clean.
A fun, twisty read with just the right amount of bite!
To summarize this book in once sentence, I would say 'The Wives of Murder Club' is about the kind of friends you love to hate...and hate to admit you’d probably still grab brunch with.
Emma White serves up a deliciously messy cocktail of loyalty, rivalry, and razor‑edged friendship. The women at the center of this story are the type who will show up to support you… but also quietly sharpen the knife behind your back. That tension—between affection and betrayal—makes the book compulsively readable.
The drama is high, the secrets are plentiful, and the shifting alliances keep things lively. It’s the perfect pick if you enjoy stories where every character is a little morally questionable and no one’s hands are clean.
A fun, twisty read with just the right amount of bite!
June 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 STARS
rounded up to 4
right off the bat, this book pretty much thrusts you into this group of friends who form a true crime junkie bookish club. from each of their POVs you get an idea of all the different personalities & dynamics, but it's the toxicity in this friend group that kind of slaps you in the face. they all have something going on, insecurities, secrets, etc. it really is one of those reads where you watch their drama unfold with a murder in the midst of it. while it is a short read, certain parts did feel a tad bit slow. still, i ate up every minute of it bcuz i wanted to see what each of the characters did and how they navigated it. would def recommend it to those looking for a nice drama-packed, murder mystery thriller.
disclaimer: this book was read as an ARC via NetGalley, thanks to the author and publisher. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are mine.
rounded up to 4
right off the bat, this book pretty much thrusts you into this group of friends who form a true crime junkie bookish club. from each of their POVs you get an idea of all the different personalities & dynamics, but it's the toxicity in this friend group that kind of slaps you in the face. they all have something going on, insecurities, secrets, etc. it really is one of those reads where you watch their drama unfold with a murder in the midst of it. while it is a short read, certain parts did feel a tad bit slow. still, i ate up every minute of it bcuz i wanted to see what each of the characters did and how they navigated it. would def recommend it to those looking for a nice drama-packed, murder mystery thriller.
disclaimer: this book was read as an ARC via NetGalley, thanks to the author and publisher. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are mine.
June 17, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. The Wives of Murder Club by Emma White was everything I want in a binge-worthy thriller—an isolated island setting, a group of friends hiding dangerous secrets, and a murder that turns everyone into a suspect. When a true-crime book club getaway spirals into a real-life murder, the tension never lets up as lies, betrayals, and shocking revelations pile up. I loved how the story blended dark humour with genuine suspense, and the atmosphere on Snakebite Island felt increasingly claustrophobic as paranoia took hold. The twists kept me guessing right to the end, and the morally messy characters made it impossible to know who to trust. A compulsive, fast-paced thriller that will be perfect for fans of friendship-gone-wrong stories and addictive domestic suspense.
August 9, 2026
I was really excited about this one in the beginning! When Marta’s husband Derek goes missing and then pictures of Derek with one of her best friends show up on the digital photo album during book club, I was immediately intrigued and thought this was going to be so good. Unfortunately, it just ended up dragging for me. It took me a lot longer than normal to get through because I just wasn’t that invested in what was happening.
I will say I was shocked that Marta was the one who ended up killing her husband! I didn’t see that coming. I did figure out that the doctor was the one who killed Celeste, it felt pretty obvious as the story went on.
Overall, there were a couple good twists, but it was too slow for me and didn’t keep me hooked. Unfortunately, this isn’t one I’d recommend to my friends.
I will say I was shocked that Marta was the one who ended up killing her husband! I didn’t see that coming. I did figure out that the doctor was the one who killed Celeste, it felt pretty obvious as the story went on.
Overall, there were a couple good twists, but it was too slow for me and didn’t keep me hooked. Unfortunately, this isn’t one I’d recommend to my friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2026
SO GOOD! Finger pointing, accusations left right and centre. Envy, secrets and such messiness! Welcome to the Wives Of The Murder Club where no one can be trusted. It’s a slow burn but so worth it! Each POV, left me wanting to find out how all of it will uncover. I was not left disappointed. The tension gave me the right amount of book anxiety. The writing style was so evenly balanced and the idea of four woman with contrasting personalities, shielding their secrets to the best of their abilities but where they clever enough to let it go under detected? I will let you be the judge of that. It’s one of those books I’m glad I was patient when reading because it takes you on a slow, bumpy ride. But it’s so worth it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
This was also a lot of fun!
This was interesting and dramatic and had lots of different character dynamics.
And I think those different dynamics between characters and personalities is what really let this book shine. There was clearly a hierarchy to these characters and their relationships within their group.
This was twisty and unexpected and always had me questioning what was going to happen and how these characters would handle it. And I think a lot of readers will also enjoy that part of this book. I was never bored.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was also a lot of fun!
This was interesting and dramatic and had lots of different character dynamics.
And I think those different dynamics between characters and personalities is what really let this book shine. There was clearly a hierarchy to these characters and their relationships within their group.
This was twisty and unexpected and always had me questioning what was going to happen and how these characters would handle it. And I think a lot of readers will also enjoy that part of this book. I was never bored.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
July 13, 2026
2.5/5. This book had a lot of potential but overall it was just too confusing. With the time jumps (that never noted when it was flashback, just randomly started talking about the past and you had to assume), the POVs (never knew what character you were actually reading about), the writing itself and the ending, it just ended… too many unanswered questions.
It has a bunch of great reviews, so clearly this one was just not for me. As always, I finished it, so it’s an automatic 2 stars. The extra .5 is strictly because I did actually want to find out who killed who.
Also, the characters names pissed me off…. Imogen? I had to nickname her Immy just to get by.
It has a bunch of great reviews, so clearly this one was just not for me. As always, I finished it, so it’s an automatic 2 stars. The extra .5 is strictly because I did actually want to find out who killed who.
Also, the characters names pissed me off…. Imogen? I had to nickname her Immy just to get by.
June 21, 2026
Thank you to @bonnierbooks_uk for sending me this book.
This book was full of drama, I mean full, right until the end. There was so much going on, but it was easy enough to keep up. Murder, lies, deceit, backstabbing, bitching, cheating, money stealing, trophy keeping, it was all there!
I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read, i binged it over two sitting lol but the ending has me
thinking a lot, left me wondering, making up scenarios in my head! If any of the above takes your fancy, then this book is for you. A psychological thriller, mystery.
This book was full of drama, I mean full, right until the end. There was so much going on, but it was easy enough to keep up. Murder, lies, deceit, backstabbing, bitching, cheating, money stealing, trophy keeping, it was all there!
I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read, i binged it over two sitting lol but the ending has me
thinking a lot, left me wondering, making up scenarios in my head! If any of the above takes your fancy, then this book is for you. A psychological thriller, mystery.
June 21, 2026
Unhinged and unputdownable.
Exceeded my expectations, but to be fair, starting the audiobook I had none - I was after an easy listen. Had me hooked quickly.
I wasn’t particularly sold on the idea of podcast snippets and the first two felt unnecessary to me, but I appreciated them later on. I think it fits the theme of the book and characters’ hobby perfectly and adds a unique touch to the story.
PS Reminded me a little of one of the classics - Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”.
toxic friends • murders • mystery • plot twists
Exceeded my expectations, but to be fair, starting the audiobook I had none - I was after an easy listen. Had me hooked quickly.
I wasn’t particularly sold on the idea of podcast snippets and the first two felt unnecessary to me, but I appreciated them later on. I think it fits the theme of the book and characters’ hobby perfectly and adds a unique touch to the story.
PS Reminded me a little of one of the classics - Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”.
toxic friends • murders • mystery • plot twists
July 2, 2026
This was alright but I found it confusing, this is told through the eyes of the different women which was good but the time jumped around and it took a while to realise what part of the plot was being read. This affected the pace of the plot. Some of the events are hard to believe, well very hard to believe. The characters are okay.
The podcast chapters were unnecessary in my opinion, they did not really add anything to the plot, they provided an early hint of the plot direction but that was about it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for an advance copy.
The podcast chapters were unnecessary in my opinion, they did not really add anything to the plot, they provided an early hint of the plot direction but that was about it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for an advance copy.
July 4, 2026
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
Imogen, Marta, Bernie and Celeste form a book club where they meet monthly to discuss murder mysteries. In a weekend retreat to an isolated ialand, one of them go missing. They all have secrets but who would kill them.
This is told from the pov of the different characters. It’s an easy read perfect for a sun lounger. Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, with satisfying round up of all of the details by the end
Imogen, Marta, Bernie and Celeste form a book club where they meet monthly to discuss murder mysteries. In a weekend retreat to an isolated ialand, one of them go missing. They all have secrets but who would kill them.
This is told from the pov of the different characters. It’s an easy read perfect for a sun lounger. Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, with satisfying round up of all of the details by the end
October 6, 2026
I already reviewed this book in its original (Canadian) version, so this review is purely to be a hater (NOT on the book, the book was great). I just want to know who decided that it was a good idea to 1) change a perfectly acceptable title 2) change a perfectly good cover for this either AI/either very mid cover and 3) write this atrocious blurb using very probably Chat GPT. That's it, all hate on the publisher, none on the author!
And because I'm unable to just purely be a hater on the internet and say nothing good, I will say I...like the colors on this cover!
And because I'm unable to just purely be a hater on the internet and say nothing good, I will say I...like the colors on this cover!
June 28, 2026
This was such a great story with complex characters that kept me guessing throughout. Living just outside of Toronto, it was nice to hear some places I was familiar with mentioned as well. The mystery kept me intrigued and wanting more.
However, I did find it moved a bit slowly until the very end and every time there was a break for the podcast I wish the story had kept going instead.
Great weekend mystery read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
However, I did find it moved a bit slowly until the very end and every time there was a break for the podcast I wish the story had kept going instead.
Great weekend mystery read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews