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The Wife's Shadow
From one of Elle magazine's 'authors to watch' comes a twisty, suspenseful and emotionally fraught novel about how little we really know the person we marry. For fans of The Affair and Dr Foster.
Every woman has a secret...
Everyone admires Suzy and her doll's house life. She has a gorgeous family, a beautiful home and a successful business. But Suzy hasn't always been in control. In her past lies a shadowy tale of fear and instability - a life that she once ran away from, and has hidden from ever since.
When Suzy starts being followed, she fears that her past may finally be catching up on her. And when she finds herself unable to do what to her is the most important thing - keep her loved ones safe - she has to decide how far she'd be willing to go to win everything back.
Even if it means sacrificing everything she knows and loves...
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2018
32 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Cath Weeks
9 books19 followersCath Weeks, also known as Cate Ray, is a British suspense author. Her unique debut, 'Blind', was longlisted for the Waverton Good Read award and she was named an "Author to Watch" by ELLE magazine. A favourite with book clubs, her novels have been selected by Evening Standard, Closer, and Woman & Home. Find out more at Cate Ray's official website: www.CateRay.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 8, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! With a couple who seemed to not only have it all but had life worked out.
She was the breadwinner he was the stay at home Dad .
He did work in the Police force but was laid off through injury. She was happy working and then coming home to be wife and mother to her children who she adored.
Her mother died, she was grieving. She also was hiding a secret.
She needed medication to help.
Things started a downward spiral but not in the way I thought it was going to play out.
It took a new route that left a reader with a note of suspense, an eerie “sniff” for something ‘not quite right’ but you couldn’t put your finger on it.
I did kinda guess whom it might be, but not the whys, which kept me totally puzzled.
I’d highly recommend this read for thriller fans, domestic noir fans and those that love to scratch their heads in thought when reading such a book as this saying to yourself “ this is so good, I’m wondering where the author is going with this” and sit sweating until you get that REVEAL.
March 2, 2019
Suzy and husband Mike seem to have the perfect marriage, she owns a deli and Mike has taken early retirement from the police as he injured his leg in a car crash. He is a stay at home dad to their 2 children Ruby and Jake. Friends are envious of their relationship and lifestyle!!
When strange things start occurring , Suzy’s life starts to unravel and she has a feeling someone is following her.
Suzy grew up with an abusive father who used to hit her mother, they ran away from him and now she thinks he is behind all the strange things that are going on. Has he returned as he knows her mother has died?
Loved the way the tension slowly builds, it has you in its spell from start to finish!! I tried to guess the ending but I’m pleased to say I failed.
I love discovering new authors. Will definitely be looking out for Cath Weeks next book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
When strange things start occurring , Suzy’s life starts to unravel and she has a feeling someone is following her.
Suzy grew up with an abusive father who used to hit her mother, they ran away from him and now she thinks he is behind all the strange things that are going on. Has he returned as he knows her mother has died?
Loved the way the tension slowly builds, it has you in its spell from start to finish!! I tried to guess the ending but I’m pleased to say I failed.
I love discovering new authors. Will definitely be looking out for Cath Weeks next book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
March 21, 2019
I have started this review 6 times now....and still not sure what to say, unusual as that may be 😃
The story itself is fine if not a tale overtold...Suzy has a secret from her past.....years later she is being followed, is her past about to ‘come to light?’....what about her husband, is he all he makes himself out to be?....has he a secret?....add to the story errant best friends, a 1.8 million surprise inheritance and much inward thought from Suzy and as say the story itself is viable, fine and dandy and tellable
I liked Suzy having a ‘deli’ that served quiches and cakes and the parts set in there were for me the best and offered some much needed chuckles
The narrative though was clunky, set in the past and the present, the cast rigid and unlikeable even when you were supposed to like them with the exception of cake maker Leo who did have a spark of personality
Highly irritating were Suzy’s kids it has to be said, one of which was narrated as speaking in a ‘funny’ way so always getting her words wrong, for example a rabbit would be a wabbit or a thwabbit...call me grumpy but it quickly wore very thin!
When we got to the conclusion it was more ‘oh’ than ‘OHHHHH’
There is a good mini theme running through the book where Suzy attends somewhere that we are built up and up to wonder where it is and when it is revealed it is quite a surprise in the story and from there leads the rest of the main story ( if makes sense )
Will leave it there, disappointing
3.5/10 2 ( just ) Stars
March 23, 2019
The Wife's Shadow by Cath Weeks was a book that I was invited to read by the publisher Little Brown Books UK and I am so glad that I accepted the invite.. this book was a page turner. Even though I guessed the ending and who was doing the stalking I was gripped by the story, needing to keep reading until late into the night. The book was advertised as Women's Fiction but I definitely think it had many elements of a psychological thriller. I really enjoyed this one.
Suzy and Mike have the perfect life.. or do they? Mile is a retired cop who is a stay at home dad while Suzy owns and run some her own deli business in town. Things are going well until her mother dies. After this she feels that she is being watched and keeps finding reminders to her dark past. She starts to fear for her life and for her family's safety. Why is this happening and who is doing it.
This book will have you checking your surroundings for people watching you. It is a bit creepy and you feel Suzys fear.
Thanks to the publishers of this book for my advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Suzy and Mike have the perfect life.. or do they? Mile is a retired cop who is a stay at home dad while Suzy owns and run some her own deli business in town. Things are going well until her mother dies. After this she feels that she is being watched and keeps finding reminders to her dark past. She starts to fear for her life and for her family's safety. Why is this happening and who is doing it.
This book will have you checking your surroundings for people watching you. It is a bit creepy and you feel Suzys fear.
Thanks to the publishers of this book for my advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
March 28, 2019
So this was an interesting read, Suzy and Mike seem to have the perfect marriage.
Mike is a stay at home dad retired through injury from the police force and Suzy is a small business owner, namely a local deli shop.
Suzy's life seems great she has her friends and her family surrounding her.
But when her mum dies things seem to start to unravel slightly.
She sees strange things and gets the sense someone is watching here and thinks it may have something to do with her past.
So this was told solely from Suzy's POV and was mainly a character-driven book it moved quite slowly at times concentrating on sometimes mundane everyday activities, this did mean my attention wandered slightly as I wasn't that interested in whose turn it was to pack the kids lunches.
The hubby Mike did seem fantastic, like the perfect husband: yes he could be slightly sanctimonious at times and a tad judgmental when it came to Suzy and her parenting and decisions but for the most part he appeared supportive and a great father to there children.
Suzy herself was doing a great job of juggling her responsibilities and I think she did this quite admirably.
When the strange occurrences start to happen we are taken on a journey along with Suzy herself as she attempts to uncover what is actually happening and she eventually discovers that she might not know the people around her quite as well as she actually thought she did.
So as I said earlier I did initially find this quite plodding but it did change speed in the second half which I found much more compelling reading.
I also liked the anonymous mystery of Suzy's strange meetings and I didn't actually manage to guess what was occurring there.
My main issue here was that not much really happens and I found myself a tad disconnected overall: I really wasn't that interested or invested in the characters here.
Which really was a shame as I cannot fault this on the writing itself as that was excellent.
So the last quarter here saved this for me and it really managed to pull things out of the bag.
I also found it ever so satisfying that all guilty parties involved had a consequence and no one was forgiven (as it should be).
Lastly, this was slightly predictable as there weren't that many key characters here making this easy to solve.
My final rating of this also reflects the fact that this really took its time grabbing my attention.
This was well-written with a satisfying conclusion.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of "The Wife's Shadow"
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
November 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Well written, in the tradition of all good psychological thrillers/domestic noir. An author to watch out for.
May 18, 2019
This was one of the slow burn thrillers. The story went thus, Suzy seemed to have everything, home, family, career. But all that came with a hidden past, she thought she had escaped it all... But something seemed to be following her...
My first book by author Cath Weeks, it took me a couple of tries to get into it. The initial part was slower than normal thrillers. The tension across the scenes took some time to build up, but there were definitely some unexpected twists which gave me a start. A gasp or two later, my heart settled, and I could finish the book.
A slow start but a great finish.
My first book by author Cath Weeks, it took me a couple of tries to get into it. The initial part was slower than normal thrillers. The tension across the scenes took some time to build up, but there were definitely some unexpected twists which gave me a start. A gasp or two later, my heart settled, and I could finish the book.
A slow start but a great finish.
February 18, 2019
When I was invited to read The Wife's Shadow on Netgalley I'll admit to not knowing all that much about it. I was swayed by the gorgeous cover though and the premise of a perfect life being not quite as it seems. And actually, I was very pleasantly surprised, because The Wife's Shadow ended up being quite different to how I expected it, but in a good way.
The book begins when Suzy starts to notice strange things linking to her childhood in a town many miles away - a packet of red cigarette papers, a leaflet for a local event and an old toy. All of them pretty mundane but incredibly significant to Suzy. Convinced someone is following her and trying to scare her, she sets off to find out what really happened all those years ago. But knowing the truth doesn't bring Suzy peace of mind as she starts to feel she is loosing control of her life and sanity. Is it the ghosts of the past who are haunting Suzy or is there something more sinister at play in her present.
Right from the beginning, I was gripped by this book. I loved how an uneasy feeling was built as Suzy becomes increasingly confused by what's happening. The decline of Suzy's apparent mental stability is expertly done, as she transforms from strong, controlled and assured to weak, anxious and uncertain. It's all very subtle and leaves the reader wondering what's really going on or is it all in Suzy's mind?
I thought the flashbacks to her past were very good, slowly building a picture of a troubled childhood and an impending sense of doom that something awful is going to happen. Cath Weeks tackles the difficult topic of domestic violence, and the impact on children who witness it, sensitively. The glimpses of her childhood also allow the reader to understand Suzy's actions and behavior in the present, making her easy to sympathise with, even while doubting her reliability.
The cover and the synopsis scream psychological thriller, and yes there is a strong element of suspense. But this book isn't just about the big twists, it's is also a strong character study, of a woman who's suffered childhood trauma, manipulation, betrayal and is struggling to let go of her past. Suzy was a character I was really rooting for by the end. There's a lot packed into this book, and I wondered how all the threads were going to tie together and I wasn't disappointed when they did. If you like a more subtle psychological read with a strong lead character and complex layers, then I would recommend the wife's secret without hesitation.
The book begins when Suzy starts to notice strange things linking to her childhood in a town many miles away - a packet of red cigarette papers, a leaflet for a local event and an old toy. All of them pretty mundane but incredibly significant to Suzy. Convinced someone is following her and trying to scare her, she sets off to find out what really happened all those years ago. But knowing the truth doesn't bring Suzy peace of mind as she starts to feel she is loosing control of her life and sanity. Is it the ghosts of the past who are haunting Suzy or is there something more sinister at play in her present.
Right from the beginning, I was gripped by this book. I loved how an uneasy feeling was built as Suzy becomes increasingly confused by what's happening. The decline of Suzy's apparent mental stability is expertly done, as she transforms from strong, controlled and assured to weak, anxious and uncertain. It's all very subtle and leaves the reader wondering what's really going on or is it all in Suzy's mind?
I thought the flashbacks to her past were very good, slowly building a picture of a troubled childhood and an impending sense of doom that something awful is going to happen. Cath Weeks tackles the difficult topic of domestic violence, and the impact on children who witness it, sensitively. The glimpses of her childhood also allow the reader to understand Suzy's actions and behavior in the present, making her easy to sympathise with, even while doubting her reliability.
The cover and the synopsis scream psychological thriller, and yes there is a strong element of suspense. But this book isn't just about the big twists, it's is also a strong character study, of a woman who's suffered childhood trauma, manipulation, betrayal and is struggling to let go of her past. Suzy was a character I was really rooting for by the end. There's a lot packed into this book, and I wondered how all the threads were going to tie together and I wasn't disappointed when they did. If you like a more subtle psychological read with a strong lead character and complex layers, then I would recommend the wife's secret without hesitation.
April 12, 2019
5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Cath Weeks and Brown Book Group UK for giving me the oppottunity to read this spine tingling book.
"WOW" I was not expecting that ending one bit. I was hooked from a few pages in and intrigued to find out what was going to happen. I am so glad that I could not work out the ending.
I like how Cath has written this book, she has managed to keep people guessing and interested throughout the story. I can imagine that as Cath was wrting this book that she got chills down her spine in places as did I when I read it. Although this is a dark story it also has an emorional element which had me welling up at times and got me thinking about a few things that was going on during the story.
Well done Cath for writing such an amazing book and I for one am now a fan of your having read this as my first book by your good self. I shal be putting your name on my ever growing list of authors to continue reading.
I highly recommend this book especially to those who would like a book that you can sink your teeth into.
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Cath Weeks and Brown Book Group UK for giving me the oppottunity to read this spine tingling book.
"WOW" I was not expecting that ending one bit. I was hooked from a few pages in and intrigued to find out what was going to happen. I am so glad that I could not work out the ending.
I like how Cath has written this book, she has managed to keep people guessing and interested throughout the story. I can imagine that as Cath was wrting this book that she got chills down her spine in places as did I when I read it. Although this is a dark story it also has an emorional element which had me welling up at times and got me thinking about a few things that was going on during the story.
Well done Cath for writing such an amazing book and I for one am now a fan of your having read this as my first book by your good self. I shal be putting your name on my ever growing list of authors to continue reading.
I highly recommend this book especially to those who would like a book that you can sink your teeth into.
January 29, 2019
What an addictive read!
It appears Suzy has the perfect life. Loving husband, two beautiful children and her own business. Not everything is quite as it first seems though, and when strange things begin to happen, Suzy fears her well hidden past is catching up with her.
The creeping sense of dread the author managed to inject into the story as Suzy's life began to unravel was excellent, and I found myself really rooting for her character and family. I didn't have an inkling of who was behind everything or why until just before the reveal, so the tension was maintained for the best part of the book. A new author for me, but based on this page turner, one I'll definitely read more of.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
It appears Suzy has the perfect life. Loving husband, two beautiful children and her own business. Not everything is quite as it first seems though, and when strange things begin to happen, Suzy fears her well hidden past is catching up with her.
The creeping sense of dread the author managed to inject into the story as Suzy's life began to unravel was excellent, and I found myself really rooting for her character and family. I didn't have an inkling of who was behind everything or why until just before the reveal, so the tension was maintained for the best part of the book. A new author for me, but based on this page turner, one I'll definitely read more of.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
January 25, 2019
The Wife’s shadow by Cath Weeks is a new author for me.
Suzy has the perfect life, two beautiful kids and a doting husband, who’s is a retired copper, who spends most of his time looking after the kids as Suzy is also is opening her own Deli. When incidents start happening. Someone starts following her and items suddenly appear out of now where that remind her of her past life when she was 6 years old. Her mother and her run away from her abusive father. She thinks he has turned up after her mother passed away recently. With all that’s happening with her life, Suzy and her husband Michael agrees that she maybe over thinking things, after what she has been through.
When I was given a copy of this by Little Brown I didn’t know what to expect. But I was actually surprised how good this was. This was a gripping page turner, that will keep you guessing through the book and some surprises at the end.
Thank you Little Brown Book Group for a copy of this book.
Suzy has the perfect life, two beautiful kids and a doting husband, who’s is a retired copper, who spends most of his time looking after the kids as Suzy is also is opening her own Deli. When incidents start happening. Someone starts following her and items suddenly appear out of now where that remind her of her past life when she was 6 years old. Her mother and her run away from her abusive father. She thinks he has turned up after her mother passed away recently. With all that’s happening with her life, Suzy and her husband Michael agrees that she maybe over thinking things, after what she has been through.
When I was given a copy of this by Little Brown I didn’t know what to expect. But I was actually surprised how good this was. This was a gripping page turner, that will keep you guessing through the book and some surprises at the end.
Thank you Little Brown Book Group for a copy of this book.
March 26, 2019
This book was not what I expected but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Suzy and Mike seem to have everything but following the death of her mother, Suzy starts to struggle.
She has her own business and Mike is a stay at home dad following a nasty car accident when he was in the Police.
Suzy starts to see items left near her home that link back to her childhood and starts to worry.
She then starts to suspect that she’s being followed and sees someone in their house.
Mike is supportive and calls two friends who are in the Police to help find out who is following her.
Suzy starts to worry more and more and soon becomes forgetful around the children.
When Mike suggests she moves out for a bit as her behaviour is affecting the children she goes along with it but is not happy.
Events then take a dramatic turn and I loved the ending of this book. I can’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Suzy and Mike seem to have everything but following the death of her mother, Suzy starts to struggle.
She has her own business and Mike is a stay at home dad following a nasty car accident when he was in the Police.
Suzy starts to see items left near her home that link back to her childhood and starts to worry.
She then starts to suspect that she’s being followed and sees someone in their house.
Mike is supportive and calls two friends who are in the Police to help find out who is following her.
Suzy starts to worry more and more and soon becomes forgetful around the children.
When Mike suggests she moves out for a bit as her behaviour is affecting the children she goes along with it but is not happy.
Events then take a dramatic turn and I loved the ending of this book. I can’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 12, 2021
The last third of this book saved it. It was a predictable ending, but the writing unravelled it wonderfully.
July 18, 2022
This was a lovely, taut example of a domestic noir/psychological thriller. It builds up slowly, believably, and doesn't let up till the very end. (The end, since I've mentioned it, I found a bit of a disappointment. Just a bit. But not enough to put me off reading another by this author.) Broadly likeable narrator and a growing sense of foreboding. An enjoyable read.
March 9, 2019
I was invited to review this book by Little, Brown Book Group UK and once I read the synopsis I knew I would be downloading it to my kindle.
I whizzed through the story; when I stopped reading after the first sitting I was surprised to find I was at 50% and I went on to finish the remainder the same day.
Suzy and Mike have the ideal marriage, all of her friends are jealous of the relationship especially because Mike is a stay at home dad. However Suzy has been hiding a secret for many years and, following the death of her mum, strange things happen and Suzy can't tell if it is something real from her past come back to haunt her or if the devastation of losing her mum has pushed her to the edge.
I genuinely couldn't pinpoint the answer here - the main chapters are interspersed with very brief chapter interludes (I don't want to add any spoilers on their subject matter!) that have you leaning towards a viewpoint but the ending still threw me which is the very best kind of ending!
My many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
I whizzed through the story; when I stopped reading after the first sitting I was surprised to find I was at 50% and I went on to finish the remainder the same day.
Suzy and Mike have the ideal marriage, all of her friends are jealous of the relationship especially because Mike is a stay at home dad. However Suzy has been hiding a secret for many years and, following the death of her mum, strange things happen and Suzy can't tell if it is something real from her past come back to haunt her or if the devastation of losing her mum has pushed her to the edge.
I genuinely couldn't pinpoint the answer here - the main chapters are interspersed with very brief chapter interludes (I don't want to add any spoilers on their subject matter!) that have you leaning towards a viewpoint but the ending still threw me which is the very best kind of ending!
My many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
Wow. My thoughts on this one are hard to put into words. The story was certainly suspenseful, gripping and kept me on edge. The twists were good in the sense that I did not guess what was happening before the reveal. That being said, I really don't know how I feel about the story and how it turned out. I think that the whole subject just creeped me out (thankfully I have not had any similar experiences or else this would have had a worse impact). A good choice for people who like thrillers in domestic settings
July 11, 2021
This book is about a woman called Suzy who starts to see someone following her after the death of her mother. She begins lose control and to question if she's being stalked or if she's hallucinating and becoming unhinged.
I found that there was a lot of slow build up and then a light speed resolution that I would have liked to be developed further. There was a focus on her day to day life and chores which worked well to convey her sense of self control, but I didn't find exciting to read.
I found that there was a lot of slow build up and then a light speed resolution that I would have liked to be developed further. There was a focus on her day to day life and chores which worked well to convey her sense of self control, but I didn't find exciting to read.
February 18, 2019
Oh MY! I never saw that ending! Well, I sort of had my suspicions but never had any evidence to back it all up, nor any motive for that matter. In fact, I pretty much had no clue where we would end up for the majority of the book. But, when we did get there, it was all so blooming obvious - gotta love a dollop of hindsight!
Suzy has a great life. She owns and manages her own Deli whilst her husband - retired through injury copper, and stay at home dad - looks after their two children. When we first meet her she has just moved and expanded her business, and her mother has just died so she is feeling a little stressed and suffering from grief. Is this why she then starts to see things in the shadows, starts to get forgetful, or is it the childhood secret she has kept hidden that is coming back to bite her?
And that's all I am saying about the story as it gets a bit frenetic quite quickly and to say much more might inject spoilers into my review and that's a big NoNo. Suffice to say that it hit the ground running and didn't let up until the very end, holding me well and truly captive throughout.
Oh how I felt for Suzy throughout, especially as more of her backstory was revealed. I did initially feel that maybe her fall from grace was a little over the top, being as how strong she has proved herself to be throughout her life, but then again, stress and grief can change a person 180 so, after pondering my feelings on the matter, I re-embraced her as a character. A good choice as things turned out!
In this book, like all good books of the genre, we have twists and turns aplenty, along with more than its fair share of duplicitous behaviour. We also have a supporting cast of suspicious characters with their own secrets and motives, and which did keep me on my toes throughout.
But when the whole truth did eventually come to light it was shocking and, as already mentioned, not something I saw coming. The eventual explanation / confession had me alternating between nodding and kicking myself, and then sitting back and applauding the author for a job well done.
This is a new author to me but one that I am looking forward to reading more from in the future. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Suzy has a great life. She owns and manages her own Deli whilst her husband - retired through injury copper, and stay at home dad - looks after their two children. When we first meet her she has just moved and expanded her business, and her mother has just died so she is feeling a little stressed and suffering from grief. Is this why she then starts to see things in the shadows, starts to get forgetful, or is it the childhood secret she has kept hidden that is coming back to bite her?
And that's all I am saying about the story as it gets a bit frenetic quite quickly and to say much more might inject spoilers into my review and that's a big NoNo. Suffice to say that it hit the ground running and didn't let up until the very end, holding me well and truly captive throughout.
Oh how I felt for Suzy throughout, especially as more of her backstory was revealed. I did initially feel that maybe her fall from grace was a little over the top, being as how strong she has proved herself to be throughout her life, but then again, stress and grief can change a person 180 so, after pondering my feelings on the matter, I re-embraced her as a character. A good choice as things turned out!
In this book, like all good books of the genre, we have twists and turns aplenty, along with more than its fair share of duplicitous behaviour. We also have a supporting cast of suspicious characters with their own secrets and motives, and which did keep me on my toes throughout.
But when the whole truth did eventually come to light it was shocking and, as already mentioned, not something I saw coming. The eventual explanation / confession had me alternating between nodding and kicking myself, and then sitting back and applauding the author for a job well done.
This is a new author to me but one that I am looking forward to reading more from in the future. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
March 29, 2019
Every woman has a secret...
From one of Elle magazine's 'authors to watch' comes a suspenseful and emotionally fraught novel about how little we really know the person we marry. For fans of The Affair and Dr Foster.
Everyone admires Suzy and her doll's house life. She has a gorgeous family, a beautiful home and a successful business. But Suzy hasn't always been in control. In her past lies a shadowy tale of fear and instability - a life that she once ran away from, and has hidden from ever since.
When Suzy starts being followed, she fears that her past may finally be catching up with her. And when she finds herself unable to do what to her is the most important thing - keep her loved ones safe - she has to decide how far she'd be willing to go to win everything back.
Even if it means sacrificing everything she knows and loves...
This story is about Suzy a married mum of two who is the breadwinner of the family. Her husband had to leave his job as a police officer as he injured his leg. Her husband Mike has taken on the role of a stay at home dad. Suzy starts finding things subtly left around that relates to her dad. Suzy and her mum fled from due to his violence. Suzy's mum has not long died and Suzy wonders if there is somebody watching her or is it just down to her grieving for her mum.
Imagine a small dream snowballing into an even bigger nightmare! That's what Kath Weeks made happen to Suzy Taylor. Big time!
This book, although it comes under women's fiction, I would say has a thriller edge to it as well. It's a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen on the turn of the next page, it's full of suspense and drama, lies and deceit and definitely had me gripped from beginning to end.
My thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
From one of Elle magazine's 'authors to watch' comes a suspenseful and emotionally fraught novel about how little we really know the person we marry. For fans of The Affair and Dr Foster.
Everyone admires Suzy and her doll's house life. She has a gorgeous family, a beautiful home and a successful business. But Suzy hasn't always been in control. In her past lies a shadowy tale of fear and instability - a life that she once ran away from, and has hidden from ever since.
When Suzy starts being followed, she fears that her past may finally be catching up with her. And when she finds herself unable to do what to her is the most important thing - keep her loved ones safe - she has to decide how far she'd be willing to go to win everything back.
Even if it means sacrificing everything she knows and loves...
This story is about Suzy a married mum of two who is the breadwinner of the family. Her husband had to leave his job as a police officer as he injured his leg. Her husband Mike has taken on the role of a stay at home dad. Suzy starts finding things subtly left around that relates to her dad. Suzy and her mum fled from due to his violence. Suzy's mum has not long died and Suzy wonders if there is somebody watching her or is it just down to her grieving for her mum.
Imagine a small dream snowballing into an even bigger nightmare! That's what Kath Weeks made happen to Suzy Taylor. Big time!
This book, although it comes under women's fiction, I would say has a thriller edge to it as well. It's a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen on the turn of the next page, it's full of suspense and drama, lies and deceit and definitely had me gripped from beginning to end.
My thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
January 31, 2019
This book is incredible. It kept me guessing from start to finish, and if you want a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, this is most definitely the one!
The story opens with Suzy, a deli owner who has, from all appearances, the perfect life: a devoted husband who is a stay at home dad, two adorable young children, a newly expanded deli business, and a beautiful home. Incidents start happening which make Suzy think of the father she had not seen since she was 6, and believed was dead. As the incidents increase, she thinks that she is being stalked, but her friends and family think it is merely a series of coincidences until one night when she wakes to the stalker standing at the foot of her bed.
Although that event makes her friends and husband realise she was not hallucinating, it prompts Suzy to find out more about her father. The stalking then culminates with a twist that I did not see coming until the end.
I loved the way the story built, and I felt every incident acutely alongside Suzy. I won't spoil the story for anyone, but it was a roller-coaster ride where every twist, turn and dip brought with it a fresh surprise. I have not read Cath Weeks' debut novel but I will certainly be checking it out after enjoying this one so much.
Thank you to Little, Brown for the copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with Suzy, a deli owner who has, from all appearances, the perfect life: a devoted husband who is a stay at home dad, two adorable young children, a newly expanded deli business, and a beautiful home. Incidents start happening which make Suzy think of the father she had not seen since she was 6, and believed was dead. As the incidents increase, she thinks that she is being stalked, but her friends and family think it is merely a series of coincidences until one night when she wakes to the stalker standing at the foot of her bed.
Although that event makes her friends and husband realise she was not hallucinating, it prompts Suzy to find out more about her father. The stalking then culminates with a twist that I did not see coming until the end.
I loved the way the story built, and I felt every incident acutely alongside Suzy. I won't spoil the story for anyone, but it was a roller-coaster ride where every twist, turn and dip brought with it a fresh surprise. I have not read Cath Weeks' debut novel but I will certainly be checking it out after enjoying this one so much.
Thank you to Little, Brown for the copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2019
Once again another great read from an author who is new to me.
This book had me hooked after the first few pages and I couldn’t stop reading, I just wanted to sit and read it till I knew how it ended, but sadly other commitments got in the way and I had to spread my reading time.
I thought the The Wife's Shadow was really well paced and written with plenty of twists and turns. The author does a great job of building the slow tension, which leaves you always trying to guess what will happen next. I thought I had worked out the ending but I was way off.
I loved the characters. Suzy the main character was my favourite. She started off as a strong character but as the story develops we see her falling apart and becoming very weak and vulnerable.
Overall an enjoyable read, but there are a few questions I have about some of the details, as they seem to be a bit unrealistic now I come to think about it. But I won’t go into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t read this one. But If you’ve read it and want to discuss it some more let me know.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes, I definitely recommend this book. Especially if you’re looking for a gripping read and are into Thriller, suspense or domestic drama.
I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group for getting in touch with me asking if I would like review this book through NetGalley.
This book had me hooked after the first few pages and I couldn’t stop reading, I just wanted to sit and read it till I knew how it ended, but sadly other commitments got in the way and I had to spread my reading time.
I thought the The Wife's Shadow was really well paced and written with plenty of twists and turns. The author does a great job of building the slow tension, which leaves you always trying to guess what will happen next. I thought I had worked out the ending but I was way off.
I loved the characters. Suzy the main character was my favourite. She started off as a strong character but as the story develops we see her falling apart and becoming very weak and vulnerable.
Overall an enjoyable read, but there are a few questions I have about some of the details, as they seem to be a bit unrealistic now I come to think about it. But I won’t go into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t read this one. But If you’ve read it and want to discuss it some more let me know.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes, I definitely recommend this book. Especially if you’re looking for a gripping read and are into Thriller, suspense or domestic drama.
I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group for getting in touch with me asking if I would like review this book through NetGalley.
May 27, 2019
Another book that I needed to finish to find out what was going to happen. Suzy has just lost her mother and at the same time is opening a bigger business. She works and her husband stays at home with the children after he had an accident and had to leave the police. The story winds along and makes you think that Suzy is struggling to cope with her loss and manage work . She starts to feel that someone is watching her and following her. She thinks that her father is dead and she had a part to play in is death but when her mother left her abusive father with Suzy was he really dead? Or has he found her and has come back to take revenge? The stalker eventually comes into the house which leads to Suzy living in fear every day. Her husband thinks that she has PTSD and convinces her to go to the doctors where she is given medication. This makes the situation even worse and Mike turns on her and threatens her that he will take the children from her and forces her to move out. She feels like she is going mad and is going to lose everything but with the help of her friends she fights back. What will be the conclusion? That would spoil it for you all as all is not as it seems and the ending is quite shocking. Will keep you up at night until you reach the end and then you can draw a breath!
June 12, 2019
Now and again I come across a book that totally takes me by surprise. I knew The Wife’s Shadow had already received some pretty good reviews but I wasn’t prepared for just how good this book was. The narrative starts off from the first-person perspective of Suzy, where we see her going to some kind of therapy. On the surface, Suzy has it all, cute kids, loving husband, good friends, nice home, growing business – but there’s something from her past that she’s kept secret from her husband, and now juxtaposed to her perfect life there is an ex-boyfriend and a stalker thrown into the mix.
The story starts off at a good pace, intriguing enough to hook you in but not overly so. The writing is good: characterisation and dialogue is real; sentence structure is varied with a good balance of showing and telling which gives just the right amount of pacing. But with such a twisty plot wow those pages soon start turning, and before you know it everything has gone on hold because you just can’t put this book down!
The Wife’s Shadow has twists galore and Suzy’s perfect life is not as it first seems. I did have my suspicion over one of the characters but was genuinely surprised at most of the twists. As a book-blogger I get to read some pretty amazing books but this one is right at the top of the pile. Another one that, as a new writer, I have really been able to learn from.
The story starts off at a good pace, intriguing enough to hook you in but not overly so. The writing is good: characterisation and dialogue is real; sentence structure is varied with a good balance of showing and telling which gives just the right amount of pacing. But with such a twisty plot wow those pages soon start turning, and before you know it everything has gone on hold because you just can’t put this book down!
The Wife’s Shadow has twists galore and Suzy’s perfect life is not as it first seems. I did have my suspicion over one of the characters but was genuinely surprised at most of the twists. As a book-blogger I get to read some pretty amazing books but this one is right at the top of the pile. Another one that, as a new writer, I have really been able to learn from.
March 23, 2019
The Wife’s Shadow is a book that the more I read the more I got into and the more I loved.
Suzy to me appeared to have the perfect life, two lovely children, Mike a doting husband, a lovely home and a busy deli that she owns but as this story shows looks can be deceiving.
Suzy’s mum has just died when we meet her and has brought up all her past including watching her father abuse her mother to the point that they run away, change their names and make a life for themselves hundreds of miles away but never being able to forget him. A few things happen all at once and Suzy gets the feeling she’s being followed and I have to admit there were parts to this book that were scary.
This book makes you question how well do you know your friends, your husband and your work colleagues as Suzy doesn’t trust any and spirals into despair leading to tablets from doctors and Mike suggesting she move into her mums until she gets her head together as it’s affecting the kids.
This was a well written book that I enjoyed immensely and was behind Suzy all the way through even when she doubted herself and liked she was a good strong character beneath it all.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus, for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Suzy to me appeared to have the perfect life, two lovely children, Mike a doting husband, a lovely home and a busy deli that she owns but as this story shows looks can be deceiving.
Suzy’s mum has just died when we meet her and has brought up all her past including watching her father abuse her mother to the point that they run away, change their names and make a life for themselves hundreds of miles away but never being able to forget him. A few things happen all at once and Suzy gets the feeling she’s being followed and I have to admit there were parts to this book that were scary.
This book makes you question how well do you know your friends, your husband and your work colleagues as Suzy doesn’t trust any and spirals into despair leading to tablets from doctors and Mike suggesting she move into her mums until she gets her head together as it’s affecting the kids.
This was a well written book that I enjoyed immensely and was behind Suzy all the way through even when she doubted herself and liked she was a good strong character beneath it all.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus, for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2019
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
s This story is about Suzy a married mum of two who is the breadwinner of the family. Her husband had to leave his job as a police officer as he injured his leg. Her husband Mike has taken on the role of a stay at home dad. Suzy starts finding things subtly left around that relates to her dad. Suzy and her mum fled from due to his violence. Suzy's mum has not long died and Suzy wonders if there is somebody watching her or is it just down to her grieving for her mum.
I really enjoyed this book and was so close to giving it five stars. I loved the slow build up in tension and the mystery of the meetings she was attending. The purpose of the meetings did not get revealed until the end which added to the mystery of what was happening to Suzy. The reason I did not give this five stars is because I guessed quite early on what was happening and who was behind it. Also later on I guessed the reasoning behind it. The other thing that impressed me was that the author did not go down the blindingly obvious route.
s This story is about Suzy a married mum of two who is the breadwinner of the family. Her husband had to leave his job as a police officer as he injured his leg. Her husband Mike has taken on the role of a stay at home dad. Suzy starts finding things subtly left around that relates to her dad. Suzy and her mum fled from due to his violence. Suzy's mum has not long died and Suzy wonders if there is somebody watching her or is it just down to her grieving for her mum.
I really enjoyed this book and was so close to giving it five stars. I loved the slow build up in tension and the mystery of the meetings she was attending. The purpose of the meetings did not get revealed until the end which added to the mystery of what was happening to Suzy. The reason I did not give this five stars is because I guessed quite early on what was happening and who was behind it. Also later on I guessed the reasoning behind it. The other thing that impressed me was that the author did not go down the blindingly obvious route.
May 26, 2019
I loved this book so much that I couldn’t put it down. It had me gripped from the beginning and wondering could Suzy really have it all? Her life seems perfect to her friends when she is rich, owns a deli and her husband is a stay at home dad, but as we all know there’s always one bad apple.
Suzy’s mother dies and from the day of her funeral she starts to see a shadow of someone and then strange things are happening when she is asleep. Her husband Mike is an ex policeman and does his best to reassure her that she is either suffering from PTSD or grief after she reveals her childhood secret As well as the sudden death of her mother and asks her seek help, which she does when her Dr prescribes a 5 day course of Temazepam.
Things start to go in a downward spiral, even her children Jake and Ruby are doubting if their mother is ok when she starts to forget things, even a child and start to cling more to their dad then her.
Then things really start to twist and turn and even though I knew the book was leading to an unhappy ending it had me gripped from begging to end, so much so that I’m going straight back to my local library to read another of Cath Weeks books.
Suzy’s mother dies and from the day of her funeral she starts to see a shadow of someone and then strange things are happening when she is asleep. Her husband Mike is an ex policeman and does his best to reassure her that she is either suffering from PTSD or grief after she reveals her childhood secret As well as the sudden death of her mother and asks her seek help, which she does when her Dr prescribes a 5 day course of Temazepam.
Things start to go in a downward spiral, even her children Jake and Ruby are doubting if their mother is ok when she starts to forget things, even a child and start to cling more to their dad then her.
Then things really start to twist and turn and even though I knew the book was leading to an unhappy ending it had me gripped from begging to end, so much so that I’m going straight back to my local library to read another of Cath Weeks books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2019
The perfect family. The perfect life. Until – little by little – things start to fall apart.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping tale of secrets, lies and heartbreaking deceit. It is so well-written; the dialogue flowing easily and momentum building in an effortless fashion. We know something is wrong, but the author keeps the suspense bubbling beneath the surface.
There are so many cracking lines which caught my attention. Main character, Suzy, who resorts to medication to help her growing anxiety, reflects on previous visits to a masseuse. 'My shoulders were like an enchanted forest of knotted vines that grew back the moment they were cut.' And when she visits the police to voice fears that she is being stalked and harassed, Suzy notes: 'Only a policeman could make terrorising a woman sound as trivial as burger toppings.'
The ending took me completely by my surprise which is a definite plus in my opinion. A book that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. My thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping tale of secrets, lies and heartbreaking deceit. It is so well-written; the dialogue flowing easily and momentum building in an effortless fashion. We know something is wrong, but the author keeps the suspense bubbling beneath the surface.
There are so many cracking lines which caught my attention. Main character, Suzy, who resorts to medication to help her growing anxiety, reflects on previous visits to a masseuse. 'My shoulders were like an enchanted forest of knotted vines that grew back the moment they were cut.' And when she visits the police to voice fears that she is being stalked and harassed, Suzy notes: 'Only a policeman could make terrorising a woman sound as trivial as burger toppings.'
The ending took me completely by my surprise which is a definite plus in my opinion. A book that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. My thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
March 22, 2019
Every woman has a secret...
Suzy has it all, the perfect marriage to Mike, a retired chief inspector and stay at home dad to their two beautiful children, Jake and Ruby, and she has her own business, The Big Little Deli, but then her mum dies and her world is turned upside down. Suzy had had a difficult childhood and her mum was always there for her but since her death Suzy is convinced that someone is following her and leaving reminders of her past, is it all about to catch up with her and will her long buried secret be revealed?
This book, although it comes under womens fiction, I would say has a thriller edge to it as well. It's a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen on the turn of the next page, it's full of suspense and drama, lies and deceit and definitely had me gripped from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the auto approval and will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Suzy has it all, the perfect marriage to Mike, a retired chief inspector and stay at home dad to their two beautiful children, Jake and Ruby, and she has her own business, The Big Little Deli, but then her mum dies and her world is turned upside down. Suzy had had a difficult childhood and her mum was always there for her but since her death Suzy is convinced that someone is following her and leaving reminders of her past, is it all about to catch up with her and will her long buried secret be revealed?
This book, although it comes under womens fiction, I would say has a thriller edge to it as well. It's a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen on the turn of the next page, it's full of suspense and drama, lies and deceit and definitely had me gripped from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the auto approval and will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.
March 4, 2024
A great page-turner and very well-written!
This book grabbed me from the beginning, and despite guessing the ending and who the stalker was, it didn't spoil my enjoyment and intrigue. It is a creepy, psychological thriller which i feel would make a great film!
This is a new author to me, and she does a great job of injecting tension and a sense of dread in her writing. It is paced well, and I only marked it down one star as it sometimes felt a little cliche.
The plot is good and the characters well explored. I particularly loved how we get inside Suzy's head as her world falls apart. She questions whether she is being stalked or could be losing her mind,
Suzy's oh-so-perfect world starts to crumble after the death of her mother. Shadows seem to be following her, and she's forced to face up to matters from her past. Her husband appears to question her suspicions, and even her children turn against her. I was drawn in and found myself rooting for her to resolve the mystery.
A great read which I would recommend to any thriller fans.
This book grabbed me from the beginning, and despite guessing the ending and who the stalker was, it didn't spoil my enjoyment and intrigue. It is a creepy, psychological thriller which i feel would make a great film!
This is a new author to me, and she does a great job of injecting tension and a sense of dread in her writing. It is paced well, and I only marked it down one star as it sometimes felt a little cliche.
The plot is good and the characters well explored. I particularly loved how we get inside Suzy's head as her world falls apart. She questions whether she is being stalked or could be losing her mind,
Suzy's oh-so-perfect world starts to crumble after the death of her mother. Shadows seem to be following her, and she's forced to face up to matters from her past. Her husband appears to question her suspicions, and even her children turn against her. I was drawn in and found myself rooting for her to resolve the mystery.
A great read which I would recommend to any thriller fans.
March 31, 2019
A couple that at first sight seem to have it all. Suzy and Mike are happily married with two children. Suzy owns a successful deli and Mike is a stay at home Dad, after having to leave the police force due to injury. Then Suzy’s mother dies and within the space of a few weeks her world starts to crumble. Strange things begin to happen to her and her troubled past makes a return. Will Suzy discover what is happening to her before her life is left in tatters.
I absolutely loved Suzy and I really felt for her as I watched her crumble within the pages. She started off as such a strong character and events just saw her fall apart piece by piece. The book is very much a tense read in places and you just want to work out what is happening to help Suzy !!
A great read that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
I absolutely loved Suzy and I really felt for her as I watched her crumble within the pages. She started off as such a strong character and events just saw her fall apart piece by piece. The book is very much a tense read in places and you just want to work out what is happening to help Suzy !!
A great read that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
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