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The Worst Wife
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 27A darkly humorous, twisted mystery from Amy Tintera, author of the New York Times bestseller Listen for the Lie.
Charlotte is George’s third wife. He’s much older than she is, and much richer. When George suddenly goes missing after a chaotic family party, Charlotte can see how this looks for her—and it’s not great. But something’s off, and Charlotte needs to find George before the police do, before she becomes the main suspect.
Charlotte has a feeling this could be connected to the murder of George’s first wife, Diana, many years ago. She is determined to get to the bottom of this, clear her name, and maybe hide a thing or two about her own past along the way. First, Charlotte needs to get around George’s intense and meddling (and fabulously wealthy) family, who never liked her to begin with.
Madeline, George’s second wife, hates his guts, but she may just be the perfect person to help Charlotte out. As the stakes rise and the family closes in around them, this unlikely pair will need to decide if they can trust each other, and trust themselves. When you’re Wife #3 and you need to solve the murder of Wife #1, who better to help you than Wife #2?
Charlotte is George’s third wife. He’s much older than she is, and much richer. When George suddenly goes missing after a chaotic family party, Charlotte can see how this looks for her—and it’s not great. But something’s off, and Charlotte needs to find George before the police do, before she becomes the main suspect.
Charlotte has a feeling this could be connected to the murder of George’s first wife, Diana, many years ago. She is determined to get to the bottom of this, clear her name, and maybe hide a thing or two about her own past along the way. First, Charlotte needs to get around George’s intense and meddling (and fabulously wealthy) family, who never liked her to begin with.
Madeline, George’s second wife, hates his guts, but she may just be the perfect person to help Charlotte out. As the stakes rise and the family closes in around them, this unlikely pair will need to decide if they can trust each other, and trust themselves. When you’re Wife #3 and you need to solve the murder of Wife #1, who better to help you than Wife #2?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 2, 2027
About the author
Amy Tintera
11 books7,568 followersAmy Tintera is the New York Times bestselling author of Listen for the Lie, as well as several novels for teens. Listen for the Lie, her first novel for adults, was a Good Morning America Book Club pick, the winner of the Audie Award for Best Mystery Audiobook, and a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel, the ITW Best Audiobook Award, Book of the Month's Book of the Year Award, and the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery/Thriller and Best Audiobook. Listen for the Lie has been translated into 29 languages.
Before becoming an author, Amy worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College.
Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Before becoming an author, Amy worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College.
Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Want to Read
September 30, 2026Yay!! I liked 'Listen For The Lie' by Amy Tinter! So I have a good feeling about this arc!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫.
This is the kind of opening that tells you immediately you're going to have a f*cking good time. Charlotte is George's much younger third wife, and when he disappears after a disastrous family party, she realizes that things aren't exactly looking great for her. Especially when George's first wife was murdered years ago. Naturally, Charlotte decides she needs to find him before the police do, while perhaps keeping a few little details about her own past to herself.
I absolutely LOVED Charlotte. Her narration had me grinning constantly, but her parenthetical notations?! Give me ALL of them. They added so much personality to her voice and made the dark humor even more vicious. And underneath all that delicious snark is a genuinely clever story about a grifter where the biggest question becomes, "Who exactly is fleecing who?" I spent so much time trying to figure out who was playing whom, and every time I thought I had a handle on things, the story gave me another reason to question it.
This was such a fun, twisted mystery, and I loved the unlikely dynamic between Charlotte and Madeline, Wife #2, who has every reason to hate George but somehow becomes exactly the person Charlotte needs. There is something so satisfying about watching these women navigate a family full of secrets, money, and questionable motives while trying to figure out what the hell happened to George. Amy Tintera has created a story that is genuinely clever without taking itself too seriously, and Charlotte's voice made it even more entertaining. This was a fantastic read, and I would absolutely sign up for another round of Charlotte's questionable life choices (preferably with even more parentheses). Many thanks to Celadon Books for the early copy that will publish March 2, 2027.
This is the kind of opening that tells you immediately you're going to have a f*cking good time. Charlotte is George's much younger third wife, and when he disappears after a disastrous family party, she realizes that things aren't exactly looking great for her. Especially when George's first wife was murdered years ago. Naturally, Charlotte decides she needs to find him before the police do, while perhaps keeping a few little details about her own past to herself.
I absolutely LOVED Charlotte. Her narration had me grinning constantly, but her parenthetical notations?! Give me ALL of them. They added so much personality to her voice and made the dark humor even more vicious. And underneath all that delicious snark is a genuinely clever story about a grifter where the biggest question becomes, "Who exactly is fleecing who?" I spent so much time trying to figure out who was playing whom, and every time I thought I had a handle on things, the story gave me another reason to question it.
This was such a fun, twisted mystery, and I loved the unlikely dynamic between Charlotte and Madeline, Wife #2, who has every reason to hate George but somehow becomes exactly the person Charlotte needs. There is something so satisfying about watching these women navigate a family full of secrets, money, and questionable motives while trying to figure out what the hell happened to George. Amy Tintera has created a story that is genuinely clever without taking itself too seriously, and Charlotte's voice made it even more entertaining. This was a fantastic read, and I would absolutely sign up for another round of Charlotte's questionable life choices (preferably with even more parentheses). Many thanks to Celadon Books for the early copy that will publish March 2, 2027.
Want to Read
October 2, 2026Coming Mar 02, 2027
Length: 11 hrs
A darkly humorous, twisted mystery from Amy Tintera.
Oh, yes, I'm eagerly waiting to read it!!! I really enjoyed Listen for the Lie. Usually I don't bother to re-read books because there are so many new books to-read and so little time. But I've read LftL 3 times which doesn't happen very often, so there's something about this author's stories I enjoy.
Length: 11 hrs
A darkly humorous, twisted mystery from Amy Tintera.
Oh, yes, I'm eagerly waiting to read it!!! I really enjoyed Listen for the Lie. Usually I don't bother to re-read books because there are so many new books to-read and so little time. But I've read LftL 3 times which doesn't happen very often, so there's something about this author's stories I enjoy.
Want to Read
September 25, 2026This sounds so fun ~ humor and a mystery?! Count me in!
Plus, same author as Listen for the Lie ~ an amazing mystery I highly recommend and loved!
Pub date: 03/2027
Plus, same author as Listen for the Lie ~ an amazing mystery I highly recommend and loved!
Pub date: 03/2027
September 26, 2026
I got some Finlay Donovan vibes towards the end!
RTC
RTC
September 30, 2026
For those that enjoy a hefty dose of humor in their murder mystery books, look no further than The Worst Wife. As in the author’s previous excellent book, Listen For The Lie, we have a protagonist, Charlotte, with dubious morals but we can’t help but root for her. She’s had a tough life and has given up on love. Charlotte has spent most of her 25 years of life pulling cons with her morally bankrupt father until she marries George, a wealthy man twice her age.
Charlotte is George’s third wife. He is divorced from Madeline who has custody of George’s daughter, Hazel. Hazel’s mother, Diana (George’s first wife) was murdered at a party at their lake house nine years ago. George decides to have another party nine years later and he disappears without a trace. Are George’s disappearance and Diana’s murder connected? Charlotte is determined to find out and also to keep the police from finding out about her previous life.
This book is so much fun! There are horrible in-laws, an angry teenager, Charlotte’s self centered father and George’s siblings and nephews. Do one of these people know what actually happened? Will Charlotte’s dubious past come back to haunt her?
Highly recommend to fans of quick witted, fast paced mystery thrillers. It’s a winner.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Charlotte is George’s third wife. He is divorced from Madeline who has custody of George’s daughter, Hazel. Hazel’s mother, Diana (George’s first wife) was murdered at a party at their lake house nine years ago. George decides to have another party nine years later and he disappears without a trace. Are George’s disappearance and Diana’s murder connected? Charlotte is determined to find out and also to keep the police from finding out about her previous life.
This book is so much fun! There are horrible in-laws, an angry teenager, Charlotte’s self centered father and George’s siblings and nephews. Do one of these people know what actually happened? Will Charlotte’s dubious past come back to haunt her?
Highly recommend to fans of quick witted, fast paced mystery thrillers. It’s a winner.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Charlotte married George, a wealthy and much older man. Does she love him? Well....no, but she does like him and doesn't wish any ill will upon him. In fact, if anything happens to him, his hot, young wife with a criminal past will be the first suspect.
When George disappears from a large family party, his parents and siblings are unconcerned and act shady as heck. Charlotte doesn't know what they're hiding, but she does know she needs to find George and find him fast.
George's first wife, Diana, just so happened to be murdered at a similar party nine years prior and Charlotte, who is nothing if not scrupulous, cannot shake the feeling that George's disappearance is connected to Diana's death.
Charlotte cannot trust George's family, nor her own father, to help her solve this mystery, so she turns to the only person she thinks she may be able to trust: George's second wife, (that's right, Charlotte is his third) Madeline.
Even though Madeline hates George and is extremely lukewarm about Charlotte, she's been George's daughter Hazel's primary caretaker since Diana died, and she can put up with anything if it means helping Hazel.
The Worst Wife is a fun, compulsively readable thriller about family secrets, second chances, and self-discovery. As an added bonus, the novel has a hilariously smart-mouthed heroine and loads of deliciously messy family drama.
When George disappears from a large family party, his parents and siblings are unconcerned and act shady as heck. Charlotte doesn't know what they're hiding, but she does know she needs to find George and find him fast.
George's first wife, Diana, just so happened to be murdered at a similar party nine years prior and Charlotte, who is nothing if not scrupulous, cannot shake the feeling that George's disappearance is connected to Diana's death.
Charlotte cannot trust George's family, nor her own father, to help her solve this mystery, so she turns to the only person she thinks she may be able to trust: George's second wife, (that's right, Charlotte is his third) Madeline.
Even though Madeline hates George and is extremely lukewarm about Charlotte, she's been George's daughter Hazel's primary caretaker since Diana died, and she can put up with anything if it means helping Hazel.
The Worst Wife is a fun, compulsively readable thriller about family secrets, second chances, and self-discovery. As an added bonus, the novel has a hilariously smart-mouthed heroine and loads of deliciously messy family drama.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been waiting for a new Amy Tintera book since absolutely devouring Listen For The Lie.
The Worst Wife employs a similar structure, alternating police interviews and transcripts with the advancing present-day narrative. This format creates an addictive, shifting atmosphere where every character prioritises self-preservation, turning the hunt for clues through layers of deceit into a thrilling mystery.
The story strikes an expert balance between dark tension and sharp humour. The plot centres on the sudden disappearance of Charlotte’s husband, George, which triggers a fresh inquiry into the unresolved murder of his first wife years prior. Equally wider family members harbour tightly guarded secrets, leaving nearly every participant deeply suspect.
The Worst Wife has a great premise and a genuinely unpredictable twist that I didn’t see coming. The narrative itself anchors around Charlotte, a compelling and interesting protagonist. Engaging but with a sharp edge she holds the book together brilliantly. Anyone who enjoyed Tintera's previous work or contemporary family-based mysteries will love this.
The Worst Wife employs a similar structure, alternating police interviews and transcripts with the advancing present-day narrative. This format creates an addictive, shifting atmosphere where every character prioritises self-preservation, turning the hunt for clues through layers of deceit into a thrilling mystery.
The story strikes an expert balance between dark tension and sharp humour. The plot centres on the sudden disappearance of Charlotte’s husband, George, which triggers a fresh inquiry into the unresolved murder of his first wife years prior. Equally wider family members harbour tightly guarded secrets, leaving nearly every participant deeply suspect.
The Worst Wife has a great premise and a genuinely unpredictable twist that I didn’t see coming. The narrative itself anchors around Charlotte, a compelling and interesting protagonist. Engaging but with a sharp edge she holds the book together brilliantly. Anyone who enjoyed Tintera's previous work or contemporary family-based mysteries will love this.
October 4, 2026
Messy, twisty and so much fun.
The Worst Wife was one of those books where I kept thinking, “Okay, surely that’s the last twist…” only for things to get even messier. It has that whodunit feel, with secrets, lies and plenty of questionable decisions, and I was constantly trying to work out who was telling the truth and who was hiding something.
Was every twist completely believable? Not necessarily. But honestly, I was having too much fun to care. 😂 The story moves along at a good pace and there’s enough drama and suspicion to keep you turning the pages.
After really enjoying Listen for the Lie, I was excited to read Amy Tintera’s next book, and while I think Listen for the Lie was the stronger of the two for me, The Worst Wife was still a thoroughly entertaining read.
A messy, chaotic little whodunit that doesn’t take itself too seriously — exactly the kind of thriller I was in the mood for.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for the advance copy!
The Worst Wife was one of those books where I kept thinking, “Okay, surely that’s the last twist…” only for things to get even messier. It has that whodunit feel, with secrets, lies and plenty of questionable decisions, and I was constantly trying to work out who was telling the truth and who was hiding something.
Was every twist completely believable? Not necessarily. But honestly, I was having too much fun to care. 😂 The story moves along at a good pace and there’s enough drama and suspicion to keep you turning the pages.
After really enjoying Listen for the Lie, I was excited to read Amy Tintera’s next book, and while I think Listen for the Lie was the stronger of the two for me, The Worst Wife was still a thoroughly entertaining read.
A messy, chaotic little whodunit that doesn’t take itself too seriously — exactly the kind of thriller I was in the mood for.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for the advance copy!
October 1, 2026
Amy Tintera has done it again! I absolutely LOVED this book. I loved Listen for the Lie, and this one had that same dark humor that made me obsessed.
The story follows Charlotte, George’s third wife, after he mysteriously disappears. As she starts digging into what happened, she finds herself getting pulled deeper into a whole mess of secrets, lies, and a very complicated messy family.
I could NOT put this book down. It’s twisty, messy, dark, and somehow funny at the same time. The characters had me questioning everyone, and I was completely hooked from beginning to end.
It’s one of those books that will suck you in and keep you up WAY past your bedtime because you just need to know what happens next. If you loved Listen for the Lie, definitely add this one to your TBR!
The story follows Charlotte, George’s third wife, after he mysteriously disappears. As she starts digging into what happened, she finds herself getting pulled deeper into a whole mess of secrets, lies, and a very complicated messy family.
I could NOT put this book down. It’s twisty, messy, dark, and somehow funny at the same time. The characters had me questioning everyone, and I was completely hooked from beginning to end.
It’s one of those books that will suck you in and keep you up WAY past your bedtime because you just need to know what happens next. If you loved Listen for the Lie, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Want to Read
October 1, 2026loveddd Listen for the Lie, so of course, I have to check this out! hoping for a good mix of dark comedy + twisty mysteries + snarky FMCs with iconic quotes!
Want to Read
June 17, 2026The ISBN is for
The Worst Wife, which isn't elsewhere on Goodreads!
The Worst Wife, which isn't elsewhere on Goodreads!Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews