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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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
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.
July 13, 2026
★★★☆☆.75
This was such a fun and entertaining thriller! I listened to the audiobook in less than 24 hours while I was colouring and honestly, it had my full attention the entire time 👠📚✨
One thing I really enjoyed was the audiobook itself. It was easy to listen to and the story moved at such a fast pace that I found myself wanting to keep listening just to see what would happen next.
At the beginning, I will admit I was a little confused 😂 there are four different wives, each with their own POV (third person), secrets and storylines, so it took me a little while to remember who was who. Once I got past that, everything started coming together really well.
The murder doesn't actually happen until around halfway through the book. The first half is spent getting to know each of the women, their marriages, their personalities and all the drama hiding beneath the surface. I actually liked this because it meant I already had my suspicions by the time Celeste was murdered 👀
Honestly, this whole group was chaos 💅🏼
The women weren't really friends at all. They just happened to be in the same book club. Underneath all the smiles were affairs, lies, manipulation, secrets and crimes. It definitely gave rich, privileged, entitled women who thought they could get away with absolutely anything.
Bernie — I wasn't overly shocked when it was revealed she had killed Celeste. Out of all the women, she seemed like the most entitled and controlling. As a successful surgeon, she had this attitude that everything had to go her way, and if it didn't.. well, someone was going to pay for it. She was probably my biggest suspect from fairly early on 🥲
Imogen — this was another interesting character. Learning she was running insurance scams wasn't exactly surprising considering how obsessed she was with money throughout the story. I also found it fascinating how manipulative she was, especially when she tried to influence Martha because she clearly saw her as the easiest person to control 🙃
Martha — she was probably the character who surprised me the most. She came across as shy, quiet and almost innocent but there was always something mysterious about her. The fact that her husband, Derek, had disappeared while she casually went away with the book club immediately made me think, "Okay.. something isn't adding up here." Then we learn the truth. It’s always the quiet ones 🤠
Derek — he was honestly one of the worst characters in the book. Discovering that he'd been having an affair with one of his students, got her pregnant and then tried to pressure her into having an abortion made my skin crawl. He absolutely deserved to be exposed 😤
When Martha killed him in self-defence after he attacked her, I actually understood why she reacted the way she did. It was such a tense moment and I genuinely wasn't expecting the story to go in that direction. The fact that she managed to hide his body in the freezer without anyone finding out for so long was honestly wild 💀
What made the whole story even crazier was that every single one of these women was hiding something. They were all trying so hard to protect themselves that they just kept making everything worse. Watching them scramble to cover up their mistakes while pretending everything was perfectly fine made for such an entertaining read.
One of my favourite parts of the audiobook had to be the podcast chapters. I absolutely loved how they were produced to sound like a real true crime podcast. It genuinely felt like I was listening to an actual crime series alongside the story and I thought that was such a clever touch 🎙️🎧
At first, the podcast focuses on unrelated crimes but as the story develops, it starts covering Imogen's scams and eventually the drama surrounding the women themselves. It made the whole experience feel really entertaining.
This was my first Emma White book and it definitely won't be my last. I'm not sure if she has many more thrillers like this one but if she does, I'll definitely be picking them up 🙂↕️
Overall, this was such a quick, entertaining and addictive read. It had drama, murder, messy friendships, shocking secrets and just the right amount of chaos to keep me hooked from beginning to end. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller full of privileged women behaving badly, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go 🤪
This was such a fun and entertaining thriller! I listened to the audiobook in less than 24 hours while I was colouring and honestly, it had my full attention the entire time 👠📚✨
One thing I really enjoyed was the audiobook itself. It was easy to listen to and the story moved at such a fast pace that I found myself wanting to keep listening just to see what would happen next.
At the beginning, I will admit I was a little confused 😂 there are four different wives, each with their own POV (third person), secrets and storylines, so it took me a little while to remember who was who. Once I got past that, everything started coming together really well.
The murder doesn't actually happen until around halfway through the book. The first half is spent getting to know each of the women, their marriages, their personalities and all the drama hiding beneath the surface. I actually liked this because it meant I already had my suspicions by the time Celeste was murdered 👀
Honestly, this whole group was chaos 💅🏼
The women weren't really friends at all. They just happened to be in the same book club. Underneath all the smiles were affairs, lies, manipulation, secrets and crimes. It definitely gave rich, privileged, entitled women who thought they could get away with absolutely anything.
Bernie — I wasn't overly shocked when it was revealed she had killed Celeste. Out of all the women, she seemed like the most entitled and controlling. As a successful surgeon, she had this attitude that everything had to go her way, and if it didn't.. well, someone was going to pay for it. She was probably my biggest suspect from fairly early on 🥲
Imogen — this was another interesting character. Learning she was running insurance scams wasn't exactly surprising considering how obsessed she was with money throughout the story. I also found it fascinating how manipulative she was, especially when she tried to influence Martha because she clearly saw her as the easiest person to control 🙃
Martha — she was probably the character who surprised me the most. She came across as shy, quiet and almost innocent but there was always something mysterious about her. The fact that her husband, Derek, had disappeared while she casually went away with the book club immediately made me think, "Okay.. something isn't adding up here." Then we learn the truth. It’s always the quiet ones 🤠
Derek — he was honestly one of the worst characters in the book. Discovering that he'd been having an affair with one of his students, got her pregnant and then tried to pressure her into having an abortion made my skin crawl. He absolutely deserved to be exposed 😤
When Martha killed him in self-defence after he attacked her, I actually understood why she reacted the way she did. It was such a tense moment and I genuinely wasn't expecting the story to go in that direction. The fact that she managed to hide his body in the freezer without anyone finding out for so long was honestly wild 💀
What made the whole story even crazier was that every single one of these women was hiding something. They were all trying so hard to protect themselves that they just kept making everything worse. Watching them scramble to cover up their mistakes while pretending everything was perfectly fine made for such an entertaining read.
One of my favourite parts of the audiobook had to be the podcast chapters. I absolutely loved how they were produced to sound like a real true crime podcast. It genuinely felt like I was listening to an actual crime series alongside the story and I thought that was such a clever touch 🎙️🎧
At first, the podcast focuses on unrelated crimes but as the story develops, it starts covering Imogen's scams and eventually the drama surrounding the women themselves. It made the whole experience feel really entertaining.
This was my first Emma White book and it definitely won't be my last. I'm not sure if she has many more thrillers like this one but if she does, I'll definitely be picking them up 🙂↕️
Overall, this was such a quick, entertaining and addictive read. It had drama, murder, messy friendships, shocking secrets and just the right amount of chaos to keep me hooked from beginning to end. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller full of privileged women behaving badly, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go 🤪
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
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 23, 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!
May 28, 2026
The Wives of Murder Club is about four women who make up a true crime book club. The club decides to go to an island for their annual club get away, and while there the ultimate tragedy happens… One of the women is found dead and one of the remaining three is responsible. Each woman has reasons she does not want o be under investigation for murder, so they conspire to make it seem like their friend has disappeared.
A decent book, though I wasn’t the biggest fan of the pacing. The story itself was good, I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It just moved a little slowly for my taste. It takes half the book before the murder happens, so there’s not much tension after it does since it has to be resolved so quickly. It can be tricky to get the pacing of a thriller correct and this is a debut novel. I’d definitely pick up another book by this author, though. Pacing is something that is easily tweaked, but having a good plot is essential! The author had an intriguing plot and memorable characters on lock, so I can only see her books getting better and better.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A decent book, though I wasn’t the biggest fan of the pacing. The story itself was good, I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It just moved a little slowly for my taste. It takes half the book before the murder happens, so there’s not much tension after it does since it has to be resolved so quickly. It can be tricky to get the pacing of a thriller correct and this is a debut novel. I’d definitely pick up another book by this author, though. Pacing is something that is easily tweaked, but having a good plot is essential! The author had an intriguing plot and memorable characters on lock, so I can only see her books getting better and better.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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.
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
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
July 9, 2026
I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
The first half of this book I didn't really enjoy to much. I actually stopped reading and put this book aside. There are no likeable characters and the story was moving sort of slow. I decided to give it another shot and the second time around it picked up for me. Once the halfway point got there, for me, it got really good and kept me guessing.
The first half of this book I didn't really enjoy to much. I actually stopped reading and put this book aside. There are no likeable characters and the story was moving sort of slow. I decided to give it another shot and the second time around it picked up for me. Once the halfway point got there, for me, it got really good and kept me guessing.
May 23, 2026
A fun, twisty read with an interesting group of characters and plenty of drama. The mystery kept me turning the pages. The beginning had me confused as I felt it jumped and maybe I missed a page, but it did pick up. Overall, an entertaining thriller with strong friendship dynamics and enough suspense to keep me hooked.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When The Traitors becomes a book club! These book club mamas are true-crime aficionados, the knowledge of which comes in quite handy for the other extracurricular activities that each of these women gets up to in her own time. This one keeps you turning the pages to find out what diabolical depths this foursome dives into and how far they will go to keep their secrets buried.
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