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The Missing Wife
You think you know those closest to you. You are wrong…
A sleep-deprived new mother approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing Louisa wants to do is celebrate.
But when her friend Tiff organises a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Louisa’s Facebook friends, Louisa is faced with a room full of people she hasn’t spoken to in years – including someone she never expected to see her ex-boyfriend, Oliver Dunmore. When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers the night differently. Someone knows what happened to Melissa, and Louisa is determined to find them. But the truth could be closer, and the deception more devastating, than she’d ever imagined…
A gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of My Lovely Wife, The Couple Next Door, The Woman in the Window, and The Wife Between Us.
** READERS LOVE THE MISSING WIFE **
‘A top-notch thriller that grips from the start and will leave readers on the edge of their seats … A book that redefines the word unputdownable as once you start reading it, you simply will not be able to stop!! Reader review
‘I loved this book. I finished it in two hours… I couldn't put it down… best book I've read so far this year’ Reader review
‘A brilliant,twisted ending!’ Reader review
‘There’s so much I can relate to with Louisa. A first rate psychological thriller.’ Reader review
‘Fantastic storyline and completely gripping!’ Reader review
‘A pacy read, packed with surprises. Will keep you on your toes.’ Jane Corry, Sunday Times bestselling author of I Looked Away
‘The Missing Wife is one of those books that keeps you guessing … I was riveted.’ Alex Lake, bestselling author of After Anna
A sleep-deprived new mother approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing Louisa wants to do is celebrate.
But when her friend Tiff organises a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Louisa’s Facebook friends, Louisa is faced with a room full of people she hasn’t spoken to in years – including someone she never expected to see her ex-boyfriend, Oliver Dunmore. When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers the night differently. Someone knows what happened to Melissa, and Louisa is determined to find them. But the truth could be closer, and the deception more devastating, than she’d ever imagined…
A gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of My Lovely Wife, The Couple Next Door, The Woman in the Window, and The Wife Between Us.
** READERS LOVE THE MISSING WIFE **
‘A top-notch thriller that grips from the start and will leave readers on the edge of their seats … A book that redefines the word unputdownable as once you start reading it, you simply will not be able to stop!! Reader review
‘I loved this book. I finished it in two hours… I couldn't put it down… best book I've read so far this year’ Reader review
‘A brilliant,twisted ending!’ Reader review
‘There’s so much I can relate to with Louisa. A first rate psychological thriller.’ Reader review
‘Fantastic storyline and completely gripping!’ Reader review
‘A pacy read, packed with surprises. Will keep you on your toes.’ Jane Corry, Sunday Times bestselling author of I Looked Away
‘The Missing Wife is one of those books that keeps you guessing … I was riveted.’ Alex Lake, bestselling author of After Anna
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2019
402 people are currently reading
3669 people want to read
About the author
Sam Carrington
11 books479 followersSam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband, two border terriers and a cat. She has three adult children and a new grandson! She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist. SAVING SOPHIE, her debut psychological thriller, published in September 2016. It became a Kindle eBook bestseller, with the paperback hitting The Bookseller Heatseeker chart at #8. Sam was named an Amazon Rising Star of 2016.
Her 6th book - The Open House - publishes in December 2020.
Her 6th book - The Open House - publishes in December 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
April 7, 2020
The wife is missing, or is she?
This book is a total recipe, it has all the ingredients of a decent thriller, its binge-able, its plot driven, the typical 2D characters, the clues, the twists, the almost neatly tied up ending with a few stray ends that leave you wanting to call the author demanding explanations to your unanswered questions.
To be honest I enjoyed this, I read it in two sittings, it's a perfect sofa day with snacks book.
If you enjoyed Gone Girl / Girl on the train I have a sneaky feeling this book is right up your alley.
A solid four stars from me.
This book is a total recipe, it has all the ingredients of a decent thriller, its binge-able, its plot driven, the typical 2D characters, the clues, the twists, the almost neatly tied up ending with a few stray ends that leave you wanting to call the author demanding explanations to your unanswered questions.
To be honest I enjoyed this, I read it in two sittings, it's a perfect sofa day with snacks book.
If you enjoyed Gone Girl / Girl on the train I have a sneaky feeling this book is right up your alley.
A solid four stars from me.
June 19, 2019
I have read and enjoyed previous Sam Carrington books so I jumped at the chance to read The Missing Wife. And for 3/4 of the book it was heading for another 5 star review. And then it swerved well off course and it lost me. It was such a shame as I was really enjoying the story but then the main character became a completely different person. Things then became far fetched and funny and I was disappointed with the end. But for the most part I really enjoyed it, I just hoped for a better conclusion.
Louisa is the mum to a newborn, severely sleep deprived and about to turn 40. The last thing she wants is a party with all her Facebook friends. But that is exactly what happens when her best friend Tiff arranges a surprise party for her. Especially when her ex boyfriend Oliver from college turns up, an ex that she has a dark past with. She drinks too much and has little memory of the night before. The next day she discovers that Olivers wife has disappeared, and the last place she was seen was her party.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Louisa is the mum to a newborn, severely sleep deprived and about to turn 40. The last thing she wants is a party with all her Facebook friends. But that is exactly what happens when her best friend Tiff arranges a surprise party for her. Especially when her ex boyfriend Oliver from college turns up, an ex that she has a dark past with. She drinks too much and has little memory of the night before. The next day she discovers that Olivers wife has disappeared, and the last place she was seen was her party.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
July 10, 2019
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Louisa's biggest problem at the moment is trying to get enough sleep while dealing with a new baby. However, her fortieth birthday is approaching and her husband and best friend Tiff plan a huge surprise party. Louisa doesn't have any other close friends other than Tiff and is appalled when she arrives at the party only to discover that Tiff has invited everyone on Louisa's Facebook list of friends. One shocking guest is Oliver, Louisa's first love.
Not only did their relationship end very badly over twenty years earlier, Oliver's wife Melissa goes missing at the party. Louisa had far too much to drink the night of the party and cannot remember anything about Melissa. However, Oliver shows up at her door begging for her help. This is incredibly difficult for Louisa, and that is for several reasons. Yet, she reluctantly decides to help him.
As the weeks roll on, Louisa is plagued with fractured memories. This is something she dealt with her entire life. This is multi-layered story dealing with these emotional issues of Louisa go beyond being a harried mother. Furthermore, there are things about Oliver, and their shared past, that trouble her deeply and this leads to nerve-wracking moments for Louisa. Finding Melissa is not easy for Oliver, nor is it easy for the police. Other than Emily, Louisa's teen daughter, the only character I could trust in this story was Brian, Louisa's husband.
This story most definitely has several twists and turns. What is more is that the conclusion is something that I never saw coming. All while reading the story I was equally worried and frustrated for Louisa. Conversely, I never trusted Oliver from the moment he walked into Louisa's party.
Due to a conclusion that seemed a bit off, the rating on this book is a bit lower for a story that genuinely kept me quite interested. I was sold on looking for Melissa so I did find this to be a good book by Sam Carrington. I do look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Many thanks to Avon and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Louisa's biggest problem at the moment is trying to get enough sleep while dealing with a new baby. However, her fortieth birthday is approaching and her husband and best friend Tiff plan a huge surprise party. Louisa doesn't have any other close friends other than Tiff and is appalled when she arrives at the party only to discover that Tiff has invited everyone on Louisa's Facebook list of friends. One shocking guest is Oliver, Louisa's first love.
Not only did their relationship end very badly over twenty years earlier, Oliver's wife Melissa goes missing at the party. Louisa had far too much to drink the night of the party and cannot remember anything about Melissa. However, Oliver shows up at her door begging for her help. This is incredibly difficult for Louisa, and that is for several reasons. Yet, she reluctantly decides to help him.
As the weeks roll on, Louisa is plagued with fractured memories. This is something she dealt with her entire life. This is multi-layered story dealing with these emotional issues of Louisa go beyond being a harried mother. Furthermore, there are things about Oliver, and their shared past, that trouble her deeply and this leads to nerve-wracking moments for Louisa. Finding Melissa is not easy for Oliver, nor is it easy for the police. Other than Emily, Louisa's teen daughter, the only character I could trust in this story was Brian, Louisa's husband.
This story most definitely has several twists and turns. What is more is that the conclusion is something that I never saw coming. All while reading the story I was equally worried and frustrated for Louisa. Conversely, I never trusted Oliver from the moment he walked into Louisa's party.
Due to a conclusion that seemed a bit off, the rating on this book is a bit lower for a story that genuinely kept me quite interested. I was sold on looking for Melissa so I did find this to be a good book by Sam Carrington. I do look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Many thanks to Avon and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 14, 2019
For me this story was more about a hungry cry baby and his sleep deprived mother rather than a thriller about the missing wife. 50% of the book is about feeding hungry Noah, how the 40 year old mom Louisa is suffering from sleep derivation and how it is affecting her mental health.
The rest of the story is about friendship, betrayal, manipulation and forgotten memories of the dark past.
I did like the writing style of the author though. Her writing is fluid. Her characters have distinguished personalities and I can clearly see them in my head. Noah always crying and hungry. Louisa always tired and struggling. The bubbly and chirpy modelesque Tiff. The handsome and dashing Oliver. But I feel sorry the story wasn't what I expected. The ending wasn't justifiable. There weren't any dramatic twists and turns. Nothing made me jump off my seat or intrigued me to read further. I just wanted the book to end so I can start reading another book.
If only the writing style wasn't good, I would have DNF the book.
Cover Art
The cover art is nice. Apt for a thriller about a missing wife. I like the choice of colors too.
Conclusion
Did I like the story? No. Did I like the characetrs? No. Did I like the writing style? Yes. Does this book qualify for a good thriller? No. Did I manage to read it in one day after a horrible reading slump? Yes, and that matters to me if a book managed to get me out of my horrible reading slump so thank you for that.
It was subtle and not a nail-biting thriller. I think this book is more suitable for young adult readers who like thrillers rather than adult readers.
An eARC of this novel was provided by Avon Books UK via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The rest of the story is about friendship, betrayal, manipulation and forgotten memories of the dark past.
I did like the writing style of the author though. Her writing is fluid. Her characters have distinguished personalities and I can clearly see them in my head. Noah always crying and hungry. Louisa always tired and struggling. The bubbly and chirpy modelesque Tiff. The handsome and dashing Oliver. But I feel sorry the story wasn't what I expected. The ending wasn't justifiable. There weren't any dramatic twists and turns. Nothing made me jump off my seat or intrigued me to read further. I just wanted the book to end so I can start reading another book.
If only the writing style wasn't good, I would have DNF the book.
Cover Art
The cover art is nice. Apt for a thriller about a missing wife. I like the choice of colors too.
Conclusion
Did I like the story? No. Did I like the characetrs? No. Did I like the writing style? Yes. Does this book qualify for a good thriller? No. Did I manage to read it in one day after a horrible reading slump? Yes, and that matters to me if a book managed to get me out of my horrible reading slump so thank you for that.
It was subtle and not a nail-biting thriller. I think this book is more suitable for young adult readers who like thrillers rather than adult readers.
An eARC of this novel was provided by Avon Books UK via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2019
The Missing Wife is Ms Carrington's fifth psychological thriller and having fallen out of love with this author's books over her last few years I am pleased I picked this up as its a welcome return to form. It's an addictive read which is difficult to put down as the premise is a terrifying one. Louisa is an exhausted new mother who just wants a bit of peace, so when her best friend Tiff organises a surprise party inviting many people she hasn't seen for decades she is more than a little peeved. Her first love, heartbreaker Oliver Dunmore attends and this naturally makes Louisa uncomfortable. She wakes the next day with amnesia and no clue about what happened the night before so when Oliver turns up to tell her his wife has completely vanished and was last seen at the party, she realises how important retrieving the memories is. Will they come back to her?
This is the second book in as many days that begins with an absolute cracker of a prologue and it soon descends into a chilling, sinister and very dark read. The characters are superbly developed with most of them having skeletons in their closet; you therefore never know who can be trusted or who is reliable. This is one of the best uses of the unreliable narrator I've seen adding to how unpredictable the story becomes. Louisa is a complex character who slowly loses her sanity and is quite frustrating. Oliver, on the other hand, is also complicated personality-wise but he is manipulative, detestable and rather creepy. Even though I did predict some of the reveals before they happened there were still plenty of twists that caught me off guard. Recommended. Many thanks to Avon for an ARC.
This is the second book in as many days that begins with an absolute cracker of a prologue and it soon descends into a chilling, sinister and very dark read. The characters are superbly developed with most of them having skeletons in their closet; you therefore never know who can be trusted or who is reliable. This is one of the best uses of the unreliable narrator I've seen adding to how unpredictable the story becomes. Louisa is a complex character who slowly loses her sanity and is quite frustrating. Oliver, on the other hand, is also complicated personality-wise but he is manipulative, detestable and rather creepy. Even though I did predict some of the reveals before they happened there were still plenty of twists that caught me off guard. Recommended. Many thanks to Avon for an ARC.
June 24, 2019
Louisa is approaching 40. She's a new mum to Noah, a baby she had not planned. Her daughter, Emily is now a teenage and Louisa has forgotten just how exhausting being a new mother can be. Her best friend, Tiff is trying to boost her self esteem by throwing Louisa a surprise 40th birthday party. But Louisa doesn't remember much about her past. After the party her memory lapses just get worse. A boyfriend from her past had turned up at her party and his wife disappears the same night.
This book had me hooked after the first few chapters. There are parts of this story that are quite slow but the parts where the pace get quicker make up for it. When you think you know where the story is headed, it changes direction. What are the secrets Louisa can't remember? But she's not the only person with secrets. There are several twists right up to the end of the story. The characters are believable but not always likeable. A really good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Sam Careington for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me hooked after the first few chapters. There are parts of this story that are quite slow but the parts where the pace get quicker make up for it. When you think you know where the story is headed, it changes direction. What are the secrets Louisa can't remember? But she's not the only person with secrets. There are several twists right up to the end of the story. The characters are believable but not always likeable. A really good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Sam Careington for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2019
This book was definitely a page turner from start to finish. There was always lots going on and had great twists and turns throughout. The characters weren’t particularly likeable but they were interesting and made the book what it was. It was such a good thriller and I definitely recommend it.
June 8, 2019
THE MISSING WIFE is quite a different read, but one I actually enjoyed. It was slow in parts and fast in others but it came together rather well. It raised enough questions to keep me on the edge of my seat.
Louisa is approaching 40, a new mum to a tetchy Noah who was an unexpected surprise and she is completely exhausted. She has forgotten what it is like to be a new mother - how exhausting it is, the sleep deprivation - considering her daughter Emily is now a teenager. And despite it all, she loves Noah fiercely. Whether she has forgotten what it is like or she is just getting older, it all seems to be taking a toll on her as she begins to forget things as huge chunks of her day slip by unnoticed. She even forgets when she last fed Noah!
When her best friend Tiff decides she needs something to alleviate the pressure - a pick-me-up of sorts - she arranges a surprise 40th birthday party for her in the hope it will help. But Louisa has always been tight-lipped about her past, so Tiff headed straight to the place where all one's friends are - Facebook. Logging into Louisa's account she then sets to inviting all of her old school friends.
Roping in Louisa's husband Brian, Tiff has him arrange a room at the local pub where Louisa can have a night off, relax and sleep, without baby Noah's constant demands. It sounds heavenly and Louisa can't wait to lay her head down and sleep. But when Tiff suggests she pretty herself up she would take her to dinner, Louisa groans inwardly. She really just wants to sleep.
When Tiff leads her upstairs to where she has a table "booked", Louisa has a sinking feeling...that is only confirmed when she sees balloons tied to the banister declaring "Happy 40th birthday!" This can't be happening. Walking into the room everyone greets her with smiles all round announcing "Happy birthday Louisa!!" Tiff is grinning with pride that she was able to pull this off...while inwardly Louisa seethes.
But the guests are still arriving and who should turn up but Oliver Dunmore, Louisa's first love and his new wife Melissa. He is thrilled to see Louisa again but she is anything but. Her memories of that time of her life are sketchy at best, but what she does remember is Oliver leaving her for university and never coming back. She was devastated. And now he is here? How? And more to the point, why?
Louisa needs to escape. She can't handle all these people and seeing Oliver again is just bringing too much pain back. But she's had too much to drink, mixed with the tablets she took to help her sleep before Tiff dragged her out for "dinner". When she wakes the next day, she has no recollection of what happened or how she got back to her room. By the time she arrives home, she feels anything but refreshed - which had apparently been the whole point of her time away. And then Oliver turns up at her door, the last person she wants to see, informing her that his wife has gone missing!
There is a huge part of Louisa's life from the time when Oliver left that is missing from her memory. She has no idea what happened, only that something did and Oliver left. And now since his return, she is getting flashes of what appears to be memories. But are they delusions? Hallucinations? Or are they memories? But are they from the night of her party, or from twenty years ago?
With so many twists and turns and questions, THE MISSING WIFE will have you wondering who is telling the truth and who isn't? It will have you questioning what secrets are they hiding? It will have you speculating just who can you trust?
The slow unravelling of Louisa's past was almost torturous. The author would give you just a piece and then leave you wondering where it would lead. But it was just enough to keep you turning the pages. Nothing is given away until it is absolutely necessary. And when the moment of revelation came I admit to suspecting as such, but nothing prepared me for that final conclusion.
I found myself questioning that culmination of events that lead to that grand finale. At first, I wondered, was it real? Then was it necessary? And finally, where did that leave Louisa now? But then looking back on it, it's that conclusion that sets it apart and makes it unique. By the end, I found that I thought it an ingenious ending.
Despite the lack of dialogue, THE MISSING WIFE is Lousia's convoluted story of her past and her present and what happens when they collide. While I usually find myself skimming over monologuing and description for dialogue (a personal preference), I didn't so much with this as it was almost like a first person perspective through a third person narrative. I think this book would have done better with Louisa's story in the first person, but it is still an enjoyable read that will have you turning the pages at the rate of knots.
THE MISSING WIFE is my first read by this author but not my last. Some may not like the ending, though after some thought I found it ingeniously clever, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
I would like to thank #SamCarrington, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #TheMissingWife in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/
Louisa is approaching 40, a new mum to a tetchy Noah who was an unexpected surprise and she is completely exhausted. She has forgotten what it is like to be a new mother - how exhausting it is, the sleep deprivation - considering her daughter Emily is now a teenager. And despite it all, she loves Noah fiercely. Whether she has forgotten what it is like or she is just getting older, it all seems to be taking a toll on her as she begins to forget things as huge chunks of her day slip by unnoticed. She even forgets when she last fed Noah!
When her best friend Tiff decides she needs something to alleviate the pressure - a pick-me-up of sorts - she arranges a surprise 40th birthday party for her in the hope it will help. But Louisa has always been tight-lipped about her past, so Tiff headed straight to the place where all one's friends are - Facebook. Logging into Louisa's account she then sets to inviting all of her old school friends.
Roping in Louisa's husband Brian, Tiff has him arrange a room at the local pub where Louisa can have a night off, relax and sleep, without baby Noah's constant demands. It sounds heavenly and Louisa can't wait to lay her head down and sleep. But when Tiff suggests she pretty herself up she would take her to dinner, Louisa groans inwardly. She really just wants to sleep.
When Tiff leads her upstairs to where she has a table "booked", Louisa has a sinking feeling...that is only confirmed when she sees balloons tied to the banister declaring "Happy 40th birthday!" This can't be happening. Walking into the room everyone greets her with smiles all round announcing "Happy birthday Louisa!!" Tiff is grinning with pride that she was able to pull this off...while inwardly Louisa seethes.
But the guests are still arriving and who should turn up but Oliver Dunmore, Louisa's first love and his new wife Melissa. He is thrilled to see Louisa again but she is anything but. Her memories of that time of her life are sketchy at best, but what she does remember is Oliver leaving her for university and never coming back. She was devastated. And now he is here? How? And more to the point, why?
Louisa needs to escape. She can't handle all these people and seeing Oliver again is just bringing too much pain back. But she's had too much to drink, mixed with the tablets she took to help her sleep before Tiff dragged her out for "dinner". When she wakes the next day, she has no recollection of what happened or how she got back to her room. By the time she arrives home, she feels anything but refreshed - which had apparently been the whole point of her time away. And then Oliver turns up at her door, the last person she wants to see, informing her that his wife has gone missing!
There is a huge part of Louisa's life from the time when Oliver left that is missing from her memory. She has no idea what happened, only that something did and Oliver left. And now since his return, she is getting flashes of what appears to be memories. But are they delusions? Hallucinations? Or are they memories? But are they from the night of her party, or from twenty years ago?
With so many twists and turns and questions, THE MISSING WIFE will have you wondering who is telling the truth and who isn't? It will have you questioning what secrets are they hiding? It will have you speculating just who can you trust?
The slow unravelling of Louisa's past was almost torturous. The author would give you just a piece and then leave you wondering where it would lead. But it was just enough to keep you turning the pages. Nothing is given away until it is absolutely necessary. And when the moment of revelation came I admit to suspecting as such, but nothing prepared me for that final conclusion.
I found myself questioning that culmination of events that lead to that grand finale. At first, I wondered, was it real? Then was it necessary? And finally, where did that leave Louisa now? But then looking back on it, it's that conclusion that sets it apart and makes it unique. By the end, I found that I thought it an ingenious ending.
Despite the lack of dialogue, THE MISSING WIFE is Lousia's convoluted story of her past and her present and what happens when they collide. While I usually find myself skimming over monologuing and description for dialogue (a personal preference), I didn't so much with this as it was almost like a first person perspective through a third person narrative. I think this book would have done better with Louisa's story in the first person, but it is still an enjoyable read that will have you turning the pages at the rate of knots.
THE MISSING WIFE is my first read by this author but not my last. Some may not like the ending, though after some thought I found it ingeniously clever, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
I would like to thank #SamCarrington, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #TheMissingWife in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/
April 23, 2019
This book is so deserving of 5 stars because not only was it written so well, but the characters also came into a life of their own. I could feel Louisa's sense of paranoia and the her frustration at the memory loss. The author did a wonderfully eerie job at bringing these people to life. I would really like a character and then really hate them. Everyone was a suspect here.
The plot was really well constructed and the chapter organized by how many days past the party were a huge help to follow along.
Lots of twists and an ending that deserves a standing ovation.
Creepy, paranoia at its best!
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The plot was really well constructed and the chapter organized by how many days past the party were a huge help to follow along.
Lots of twists and an ending that deserves a standing ovation.
Creepy, paranoia at its best!
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 14, 2019
This was a real gem!!! It drew me in right from the first page and went through right to the last. I found it at times made me gasp and I wanted to keep reading. I loved the story and all its twists and it kept me guessing all the way through. I wish I could give it ten out of ten stars. This free book was sent to me by netgalley in return for an honest review.
June 29, 2019
Louisa is an exhausted and sleep-deprived new mum. So when her best friend, Tiff, organises a surprise party for her fortieth birthday she is unimpressed. To make matters worse, Tiff has secretly invited all of Louisa's Facebook friends, ones she is not really friends with, including an ex. When one of the guests wives goes missing after the party the mystery begins.
What I loved about this one was the whole Facebook and social media aspect and the play on memory. While this was more of a slow burn mystery/suspense for me, it went well with the plot. I felt the ending could have taken a different direction, but all in all quite enjoyable.
What I loved about this one was the whole Facebook and social media aspect and the play on memory. While this was more of a slow burn mystery/suspense for me, it went well with the plot. I felt the ending could have taken a different direction, but all in all quite enjoyable.
July 1, 2019
Upon reading some of the reviews on this book, I think some people have been abit harsh.
I do believe the sleep deprived mother was overly mention but I genuinely enjoyed the book and was hooked from the start.
I do believe the sleep deprived mother was overly mention but I genuinely enjoyed the book and was hooked from the start.
April 22, 2019
All I can say is "poor Brian and good for the brain, which is helping us in a stressful situation".
This is a mystery book with a strange plot. Did not like Louisa at all, how can you, as a new mom, forget to feed your son? With all the sleep deprivation, I am telling you, you can't. And the finish.... is not I wanted from Louisa.
This is a mystery book with a strange plot. Did not like Louisa at all, how can you, as a new mom, forget to feed your son? With all the sleep deprivation, I am telling you, you can't. And the finish.... is not I wanted from Louisa.
June 27, 2019
3.5 stars
The Missing Wife by Sam Carrington is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Louisa is tired. Perhaps having a second child at this age was a bad idea. When her husband Brian and her best friend Tiff throw her a 40th birthday party, Louisa is not happy. To make things worse, Tiff had gotten onto her facebook page, invited “acquaintances”, and people she barely remembers from college. The one person that she hoped never to see again shows up. Oliver Dunmore was her first love, and he left her. He seems thrilled to see her, and tells her he just got married. Louisa didn’t stick around to talk to his new wife. She just got drunk.
The next day, Oliver shows up at Louisa’s door. His wife Melissa is missing, and although she has a habit of going off on her own for a few days, Oliver is worried. Eventually the police are notified and the search is on. Oliver starts hanging around and making himself part of the family. Louisa’s husband thinks he’s great. So does Tiff. Oliver seems to get along with their daughter and the baby. So why is Louisa anxious? Why does Oliver keep implying that she should be willing to do anything for him because of what he did for her all those years ago. Why can’t Louisa remember that time in her past?
My Opinions:
This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author, and I have enjoyed the others a little more than this one.
The book was about lies, and guilt, and repercussions….
Unfortunately, I didn’t particularly like any of the characters (including Louisa), which makes for a long hard read, and the fact that nothing seemed to be happening didn’t help. This book seemed a little dis-jointed, and a lot slow. I found myself skimming. I hate that! The author, who has a really nice writing style, definitely picked up the pace in the last quarter, and it ended really differently than I was expecting, which for me is a good thing. Although I liked the unexpected ending, it felt rushed. However, that ending did move my rating from a 2 star book to a 3.5 star book.
So, although this one didn’t check all my boxes, it wasn’t bad, and I will definitely read more from Sam Carrington!
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 9, 2019
I picked this book up and went in with a different expectation. I thought I knew where the story was going. Surprise! Surprise! I was wrong. The Missing Wife is a psychological thriller; a story of obsessive love, breath-taking deception, and masterful manipulation. By the end, I hated all the characters but liked the book! There were quite a few twists in here, most good, some predictable; nonetheless this was yet another book I found difficult to put down.
Louisa is an exhausted, sleep-deprived new mother and, approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing she wants to do is celebrate. But when her best friend Tiff organizes a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Lou’s Facebook friends, she’s faced with a new source of anxiety altogether: a room full of old college classmates who she hasn’t spoken to in twenty years. And one person, in particular, she never expected to see again is there – her ex-boyfriend from college, the handsome and charismatic Oliver Dunmore.
When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers what happened that night differently. It could be the alcohol, but it seems more than one person has something to hide. Louisa is determined to find the truth about what happened to Melissa. But just how far does she need to look…?
I liked how the characters were defined in this one. I like books where the protagonist is not deliberately made to run towards trouble and she can make logical decisions - albeit, in this case, one too many chapters late. Despite all her flaws, I liked Louise. The rest of the characters especially Tiff were annoying. But there were enough red herrings to cast suspicion on and that is probably what made this book good. The plot of the missing wife felt a bit clichéd. Thankfully, the focus was not on the police investigation, because that seemed like a very half-assed effort by whichever PD was doing the investigating. The twist at the end was shocking. I did not see that one coming!
Thank You NetGalley, Avon Books and Sam Carrington for an arc!
Louisa is an exhausted, sleep-deprived new mother and, approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing she wants to do is celebrate. But when her best friend Tiff organizes a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Lou’s Facebook friends, she’s faced with a new source of anxiety altogether: a room full of old college classmates who she hasn’t spoken to in twenty years. And one person, in particular, she never expected to see again is there – her ex-boyfriend from college, the handsome and charismatic Oliver Dunmore.
When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers what happened that night differently. It could be the alcohol, but it seems more than one person has something to hide. Louisa is determined to find the truth about what happened to Melissa. But just how far does she need to look…?
I liked how the characters were defined in this one. I like books where the protagonist is not deliberately made to run towards trouble and she can make logical decisions - albeit, in this case, one too many chapters late. Despite all her flaws, I liked Louise. The rest of the characters especially Tiff were annoying. But there were enough red herrings to cast suspicion on and that is probably what made this book good. The plot of the missing wife felt a bit clichéd. Thankfully, the focus was not on the police investigation, because that seemed like a very half-assed effort by whichever PD was doing the investigating. The twist at the end was shocking. I did not see that one coming!
Thank You NetGalley, Avon Books and Sam Carrington for an arc!
June 27, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.
There's a lot to enjoy with The Missing Wife. You know exactly what kind of book you're getting based on the blurb alone - a psychological thriller with enough twists to keep you hooked until the very end.
It's an enjoyable read from start to finish which kept me turning the page, however, there were a few disagreements I had with the book.
The overall pacing of the story is inconsistent, some parts were tediously slow while the latter events towards the end felt a little rushed.
My concern with the unreliable-narrator in these types of thrillers is that they're overdone. While it does work, it seems a bit too convenient for this story. I believe the story could've had a stronger impact if it was told in the first person perspective of Louisa in certain chapters.
The drawback for me is the characters. They aren't as fleshed out as I would've hoped for - some characters, Emily, for example, seem more like placeholders than actual characters. They only seem convenient for continuing the plot rather than meaningful interactions with the others (barely any conversations between Brian and Emily, for example).
The ending was clever, I'll have to admit - albeit the build-up took away from the dramatic 'umph' of the delivery. There's a certain level of suspension of disbelief that is needed when reading this, specifically with those relating to the 'amnesiac' episodes.
Overall, a good thriller that is intriguing with a great premise- but isn't anything new.
3.41 / 5
There's a lot to enjoy with The Missing Wife. You know exactly what kind of book you're getting based on the blurb alone - a psychological thriller with enough twists to keep you hooked until the very end.
It's an enjoyable read from start to finish which kept me turning the page, however, there were a few disagreements I had with the book.
The overall pacing of the story is inconsistent, some parts were tediously slow while the latter events towards the end felt a little rushed.
My concern with the unreliable-narrator in these types of thrillers is that they're overdone. While it does work, it seems a bit too convenient for this story. I believe the story could've had a stronger impact if it was told in the first person perspective of Louisa in certain chapters.
The drawback for me is the characters. They aren't as fleshed out as I would've hoped for - some characters, Emily, for example, seem more like placeholders than actual characters. They only seem convenient for continuing the plot rather than meaningful interactions with the others (barely any conversations between Brian and Emily, for example).
The ending was clever, I'll have to admit - albeit the build-up took away from the dramatic 'umph' of the delivery. There's a certain level of suspension of disbelief that is needed when reading this, specifically with those relating to the 'amnesiac' episodes.
Overall, a good thriller that is intriguing with a great premise- but isn't anything new.
3.41 / 5
August 24, 2020
This is definitely worth a read, though not one I would probably read again. There was a lot happening within the actual story and at times I was little confused with it all. However, it was a good read and had some really good twists.
There's characters that can be relatable to people, such as a new mum Louisa struggling with a baby at 40 and having big gaps in her memory. There's her best friend Tiff, Louisa thinks Tiff is having an affair with her husband. There's her mysterious ex boyfriend from when she was 17 who is holding a secret linked to Louisa which will explain her gaps in memory. Then there's his wife Melissa, who goes missing the night of the party - though no guests can remember her.
It has a lot of mystery within the book and in a way I had to keep reading to know what happened. It's a book which I think a lot of people will love.. but for me it just had a bit too much going on.
There's characters that can be relatable to people, such as a new mum Louisa struggling with a baby at 40 and having big gaps in her memory. There's her best friend Tiff, Louisa thinks Tiff is having an affair with her husband. There's her mysterious ex boyfriend from when she was 17 who is holding a secret linked to Louisa which will explain her gaps in memory. Then there's his wife Melissa, who goes missing the night of the party - though no guests can remember her.
It has a lot of mystery within the book and in a way I had to keep reading to know what happened. It's a book which I think a lot of people will love.. but for me it just had a bit too much going on.
November 13, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, Sam Carrington and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
2.5 stars
I struggled. This wasn't for me and I can't exactly out my finger on it as to why exactly but it didn't really flow well and my interest wasn't captured. I think the sypnosis sounded rather good but it just didn't live up to my expectation. It wasn't bad or anything but just not what I was after. 2.5 stars from me means it was a bit better than 'just ok.'
2.5 stars
I struggled. This wasn't for me and I can't exactly out my finger on it as to why exactly but it didn't really flow well and my interest wasn't captured. I think the sypnosis sounded rather good but it just didn't live up to my expectation. It wasn't bad or anything but just not what I was after. 2.5 stars from me means it was a bit better than 'just ok.'
March 6, 2021
3 1/2 Stars
An eerie, ominous, prologue sets the stage for The Missing Wife. Fraught with suspicion, unease and paranoia, my head was literally spinning trying to unravel what was really going on! Who can you trust when absolutely no one, even those closest to you, seem to be even remotely trustworthy??
Many characters seemed morally ambiguous at best, and it was hard not to feel for Louisa. Turning 40, with a colicky newborn... and a teenager...saying she was sleep deprived would be a huge understatement. I know others found her whiny, but I was overwhelmed just reading what was happening to her!
In the past Louisa suffered from dissociative amnesia. Why can't she remember what happened then...and is it happening again? Is she an unreliable narrator? Is there gaslighting going on, and if so, why? With things spiraling out of control and my own unease ramping up, it was hard to put down. Although it became a bit far-fetched and quite unbelievable at times, especially the ending, it held my interest. So though like many suspense/thrillers, it definitely requires a suspension of disbelief, I still enjoyed it.
Possible Spoiler
It was hard to believe her husband or best friend wouldn't get her the help she needed or even leave her alone with their baby with what she was experiencing??
What kind of best friend and husband plan a huge surprise party filled with predominantly people she doesn't know well or worse, knows them from her past but would NEVER want to see them again? Especially knowing she's severely sleep deprived and doesn't seem to know what is really happening to her?? Also,didn't understand why Brian would want to befriend Oliver and let someone infiltrate their lives after over 20 years of his wife not seeing him
An eerie, ominous, prologue sets the stage for The Missing Wife. Fraught with suspicion, unease and paranoia, my head was literally spinning trying to unravel what was really going on! Who can you trust when absolutely no one, even those closest to you, seem to be even remotely trustworthy??
Many characters seemed morally ambiguous at best, and it was hard not to feel for Louisa. Turning 40, with a colicky newborn... and a teenager...saying she was sleep deprived would be a huge understatement. I know others found her whiny, but I was overwhelmed just reading what was happening to her!
In the past Louisa suffered from dissociative amnesia. Why can't she remember what happened then...and is it happening again? Is she an unreliable narrator? Is there gaslighting going on, and if so, why? With things spiraling out of control and my own unease ramping up, it was hard to put down. Although it became a bit far-fetched and quite unbelievable at times, especially the ending, it held my interest. So though like many suspense/thrillers, it definitely requires a suspension of disbelief, I still enjoyed it.
Possible Spoiler
It was hard to believe her husband or best friend wouldn't get her the help she needed or even leave her alone with their baby with what she was experiencing??
What kind of best friend and husband plan a huge surprise party filled with predominantly people she doesn't know well or worse, knows them from her past but would NEVER want to see them again? Especially knowing she's severely sleep deprived and doesn't seem to know what is really happening to her?? Also,didn't understand why Brian would want to befriend Oliver and let someone infiltrate their lives after over 20 years of his wife not seeing him
June 16, 2022
Louisa is married to Brian. They have a teenage daughter Emily and a three-month-old son, Noah. Noah is a restless colicky baby and Louisa, almost forty is struggling with sleepless nights and a baby who never stops crying. She seems to have blackouts. Whole chunks of her day are lost and it worries her that she might once again, be suffering from dissociative amnesia. This had first occurred in her late teens. She knew something bad had happened, but the memory of the trauma remained buried. Could Noah’s birth and the sleepless nights be causing it to return?
Brian and her best friend, Tiffany organise a surprise 40th birthday party. Louisa is shocked to find her ex-boyfriend, Oliver, is one of the guests. It’s while she’s taking a quick break, in the outside garden of the pub where the party is being held, that the memories of the trauma of her teenage life start surfacing once again and these memories seem to be linked to Oliver. Louisa finds her life disintegrates as Oliver worms his way back into not only her life but her family’s life.
Brian and her best friend, Tiffany organise a surprise 40th birthday party. Louisa is shocked to find her ex-boyfriend, Oliver, is one of the guests. It’s while she’s taking a quick break, in the outside garden of the pub where the party is being held, that the memories of the trauma of her teenage life start surfacing once again and these memories seem to be linked to Oliver. Louisa finds her life disintegrates as Oliver worms his way back into not only her life but her family’s life.
July 18, 2019
New mum Louisa is exhausted so when she finds out that a surprise 40th birthday party has been arranged for her from her Facebook friends list it’s the last thing she wants. Especially when she discovers that an old boyfriend from her university days, Oliver, has been invited – and has accepted.
She hasn’t seen Oliver for over 20 years and they didn’t part on the best of terms but he is married now; Louisa is married with a family of her own, surely it can’t hurt to speak to him again just for one evening. However when Oliver’s wife then goes missing after the party, Louisa finds herself dragged into past events that she has tried her hardest to forget.
This was such a suspenseful read and I had no idea which way it was going. I don’t have children so I can’t relate to the exhaustion of a new baby but I certainly felt every minute of Louisa’s brain fogged days when she just closed her eyes for a moment and woke up several hours later. It became more worrying when she couldn’t remember if she had fed the baby and especially so when she felt that her husband and best friend were undermining her and casting doubt on her ability to care for herself and baby Noah.
Because of her memory lapses and sleep deprivation, Louisa is an extremely unreliable narrator. There was clearly some devastating event from her past that she couldn’t remember and Oliver’s reappearance in her life clearly had some connection to this, but what? The huge gaps in her memory from the past, together with the alcohol induced haze from the night of her party mean that Louisa has about as much idea as the reader of what is happening. This was one of those stories where I didn’t trust anyone – I felt that everyone had something to hide and were at various times acting very suspiciously – and if you add in the little areas of misdirection and being led up the wrong path a few times, it’s no wonder my poor brain was spinning.
With the exception of perhaps Louisa who I thought rather naïve and quite often unwise in some of her decisions, none of the characters were that likeable – Oliver had all the charm of a second hand car salesman (in my experience of course, I can’t speak for all!) – definitely a bit smarmy, verging on creepy, and someone who would score very low on my trust rating; and as for Louisa’s best friend Tiff, something wasn’t quite right there either. My suspicions as to what was really happening and who was responsible were constantly changing, right up until the end.
I have bought the author’s previous books, but this is the first that I’ve read. I really enjoyed it and shall be hunting out the others from the bookshelves.
She hasn’t seen Oliver for over 20 years and they didn’t part on the best of terms but he is married now; Louisa is married with a family of her own, surely it can’t hurt to speak to him again just for one evening. However when Oliver’s wife then goes missing after the party, Louisa finds herself dragged into past events that she has tried her hardest to forget.
This was such a suspenseful read and I had no idea which way it was going. I don’t have children so I can’t relate to the exhaustion of a new baby but I certainly felt every minute of Louisa’s brain fogged days when she just closed her eyes for a moment and woke up several hours later. It became more worrying when she couldn’t remember if she had fed the baby and especially so when she felt that her husband and best friend were undermining her and casting doubt on her ability to care for herself and baby Noah.
Because of her memory lapses and sleep deprivation, Louisa is an extremely unreliable narrator. There was clearly some devastating event from her past that she couldn’t remember and Oliver’s reappearance in her life clearly had some connection to this, but what? The huge gaps in her memory from the past, together with the alcohol induced haze from the night of her party mean that Louisa has about as much idea as the reader of what is happening. This was one of those stories where I didn’t trust anyone – I felt that everyone had something to hide and were at various times acting very suspiciously – and if you add in the little areas of misdirection and being led up the wrong path a few times, it’s no wonder my poor brain was spinning.
With the exception of perhaps Louisa who I thought rather naïve and quite often unwise in some of her decisions, none of the characters were that likeable – Oliver had all the charm of a second hand car salesman (in my experience of course, I can’t speak for all!) – definitely a bit smarmy, verging on creepy, and someone who would score very low on my trust rating; and as for Louisa’s best friend Tiff, something wasn’t quite right there either. My suspicions as to what was really happening and who was responsible were constantly changing, right up until the end.
I have bought the author’s previous books, but this is the first that I’ve read. I really enjoyed it and shall be hunting out the others from the bookshelves.
April 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this twisty little thriller, it had just enough of “is it him or her” vibe to it to keep me on the edge of my seat.
Louisa is about to turn 40 and is a brand new mother, her little Noah was an unexpected surprise but she loves him fiercely, even though she is completely exhausted.
Louisa seems to have forgotten what it was like to be a new mother, considering her daughter is now a teenager, and all of the sleep deprivation seems to be taking a toll on her, she is forgetting things and huge parts of her day seem to go by without her even noticing.
It gets to the point where she even starts to forget to feed the baby!
Her best friend Tiff thinks she needs a bit of a pick-me-up, and arranges a surprise 40th birthday party for Louisa, because she doesn’t speak much about her past Tiff is at a bit of a loss on who to invite, so she goes to the place where all your friends are, Facebook, and promptly invites all of her old school friends.
And who should turn up out of the woodwork but Oliver, Louisa’s old boyfriend and his new wife! He is super happy to see Louisa, until he turns up at her house the next day to tell her that his wife is missing!
With twists and turns at every corner, you will be wondering who is telling the truth, and what secrets they are hiding.
With thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Louisa is about to turn 40 and is a brand new mother, her little Noah was an unexpected surprise but she loves him fiercely, even though she is completely exhausted.
Louisa seems to have forgotten what it was like to be a new mother, considering her daughter is now a teenager, and all of the sleep deprivation seems to be taking a toll on her, she is forgetting things and huge parts of her day seem to go by without her even noticing.
It gets to the point where she even starts to forget to feed the baby!
Her best friend Tiff thinks she needs a bit of a pick-me-up, and arranges a surprise 40th birthday party for Louisa, because she doesn’t speak much about her past Tiff is at a bit of a loss on who to invite, so she goes to the place where all your friends are, Facebook, and promptly invites all of her old school friends.
And who should turn up out of the woodwork but Oliver, Louisa’s old boyfriend and his new wife! He is super happy to see Louisa, until he turns up at her house the next day to tell her that his wife is missing!
With twists and turns at every corner, you will be wondering who is telling the truth, and what secrets they are hiding.
With thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 18, 2019
This was quite a different read, slow moving at parts and then fast at others. Louisa an exhausted mom, had a surprise party thrown by her friend where everyone was invited including ex and his wife. The wife went missing and everyone had a different tale to tell.
My first book by Sam Carrington, saw me turning pages fast to get to the twisty parts. Overall I enjoyed it barring a few parts.
My first book by Sam Carrington, saw me turning pages fast to get to the twisty parts. Overall I enjoyed it barring a few parts.
July 9, 2019
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 400
Publisher - Avon
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
You think you know those closest to you. You are wrong…
A sleep-deprived new mother approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing Louisa wants to do is celebrate.
But when her friend Tiff organises a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Louisa’s Facebook friends, Louisa is faced with a room full of people she hasn’t spoken to in years – including someone she never expected to see again: her ex-boyfriend, Oliver Dunmore.
When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers the night differently. Someone knows what happened to Melissa, and Louisa is determined to find them. But the truth could be closer, and the deception more devastating, than she’d ever imagined…
A gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Samantha Downing’s My Lovely Wife, Lucy Clarke’s You Let Me In and Linda Green’s The Last Thing She Told Me.
My Review
The last thing Louisa needs is a surprise party, she is overwrought, drained, up and down and looking after her wee baby, teen and husband. Time off work and trying to adjust to being mum to a baby again, emotions and nerves are fraught. When her bestie and husband arrange a surprise 40th Louisa can't imagine anything worse, she is wrong. Her ex and guy who broke her heart not only gets invited and comes with his new wife. Louisa gets smashed, remembers little of the actual party and now her ex, Olivers wife is missing. Louisa is having flashbacks, her emotions are all over the place, Oliver is at every turn and Louisa seems to be getting further away from the very people she should be able to trust.
Oh I feel for Louisa, she seems so vulnerable, trying to keep her crap together and her emotions in check. She is shattered, her family not helping out and even her bestie isn't as understanding as you would like. People seem to be against her and as the reader you can't help but wonder is it because Louisa is losing it or is it the folk around her we shouldn't choose.
Claustrophobic isn't the word I want to use but it is closest to describe how I felt reading this book, imaging how Louisa feels. I felt so distrustful of almost everyone and then wondered is it because they are dodgy people or am I looking through Louisa's eyes. I questioned so much and absorbed page after page to see where it was going, what was coming next and what exactly had happened to Oliver's wife.
This was my first dance with this author, it won't be my last, a tension that starts almost from the very beginning and pulls you in bit by bit, 4/5 for me this time.
Pages - 400
Publisher - Avon
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
You think you know those closest to you. You are wrong…
A sleep-deprived new mother approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing Louisa wants to do is celebrate.
But when her friend Tiff organises a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Louisa’s Facebook friends, Louisa is faced with a room full of people she hasn’t spoken to in years – including someone she never expected to see again: her ex-boyfriend, Oliver Dunmore.
When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers the night differently. Someone knows what happened to Melissa, and Louisa is determined to find them. But the truth could be closer, and the deception more devastating, than she’d ever imagined…
A gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Samantha Downing’s My Lovely Wife, Lucy Clarke’s You Let Me In and Linda Green’s The Last Thing She Told Me.
My Review
The last thing Louisa needs is a surprise party, she is overwrought, drained, up and down and looking after her wee baby, teen and husband. Time off work and trying to adjust to being mum to a baby again, emotions and nerves are fraught. When her bestie and husband arrange a surprise 40th Louisa can't imagine anything worse, she is wrong. Her ex and guy who broke her heart not only gets invited and comes with his new wife. Louisa gets smashed, remembers little of the actual party and now her ex, Olivers wife is missing. Louisa is having flashbacks, her emotions are all over the place, Oliver is at every turn and Louisa seems to be getting further away from the very people she should be able to trust.
Oh I feel for Louisa, she seems so vulnerable, trying to keep her crap together and her emotions in check. She is shattered, her family not helping out and even her bestie isn't as understanding as you would like. People seem to be against her and as the reader you can't help but wonder is it because Louisa is losing it or is it the folk around her we shouldn't choose.
Claustrophobic isn't the word I want to use but it is closest to describe how I felt reading this book, imaging how Louisa feels. I felt so distrustful of almost everyone and then wondered is it because they are dodgy people or am I looking through Louisa's eyes. I questioned so much and absorbed page after page to see where it was going, what was coming next and what exactly had happened to Oliver's wife.
This was my first dance with this author, it won't be my last, a tension that starts almost from the very beginning and pulls you in bit by bit, 4/5 for me this time.
June 28, 2019
'The Missing Wife' left me conflicted and baffled with its predictable plot, flawed characters and small moments of surprise.
A new mother, Louisa life can be best known as a complaining mom who can barely get through the day because hew baby won't let her sleep. For the first few pages, we listen to go on and on about how all she wants is a break but is too concerned about her child to take one. We also find out that she suspects her husband of an affair, when in fact her husband is silently planning a big birthday party for her. A party where she finally comes face to face with Oliver Dunmore. But Oliver's wife is missing and no one has a clue because they barely remember the party, all thanks to copious amounts alcohol they all consumed.
As the details get blurred and blame game starts, we get to know the history between Oliver and Louise and the plot is further driven by obsession, murder, and mayhem.
The obvious problem with the story is that it lacks a distinct high and low. The pace is the same throughout, even when the plot thickens. The characters are messy, as with any psychological thriller and the anticipation for the big climax was lacking. The plot is decent, with most elements for an okayish psychological thriller.
'The Missing Wife' however, is a very forgettable book. Perfect for binge reading over the weekend
A new mother, Louisa life can be best known as a complaining mom who can barely get through the day because hew baby won't let her sleep. For the first few pages, we listen to go on and on about how all she wants is a break but is too concerned about her child to take one. We also find out that she suspects her husband of an affair, when in fact her husband is silently planning a big birthday party for her. A party where she finally comes face to face with Oliver Dunmore. But Oliver's wife is missing and no one has a clue because they barely remember the party, all thanks to copious amounts alcohol they all consumed.
As the details get blurred and blame game starts, we get to know the history between Oliver and Louise and the plot is further driven by obsession, murder, and mayhem.
The obvious problem with the story is that it lacks a distinct high and low. The pace is the same throughout, even when the plot thickens. The characters are messy, as with any psychological thriller and the anticipation for the big climax was lacking. The plot is decent, with most elements for an okayish psychological thriller.
'The Missing Wife' however, is a very forgettable book. Perfect for binge reading over the weekend
September 29, 2021
When Louisa’s friend Tiff organises a surprise 40th party for her, Louisa is less than thrilled. She is constantly exhausted after the recent birth of her baby boy. A party is the last thing she needs. But, however, she grins and bears it - but gets a huge shock when her ex boyfriend Oliver rocks up. She hasn’t seen him in twenty years.
After the party it appears that Oliver’s wife, Melissa, has gone missing. Oliver turns to Louisa for help and support, but his presence makes Louisa uneasy as she remembers their past…
This started well and originally kept me interested but then sadly ventured into implausible territory. As i turned the pages I found myself liking all of the characters less and less and thinking the story was getting so utterly crazy that it beggared belief. Not a winner for me I’m afraid.
After the party it appears that Oliver’s wife, Melissa, has gone missing. Oliver turns to Louisa for help and support, but his presence makes Louisa uneasy as she remembers their past…
This started well and originally kept me interested but then sadly ventured into implausible territory. As i turned the pages I found myself liking all of the characters less and less and thinking the story was getting so utterly crazy that it beggared belief. Not a winner for me I’m afraid.
July 17, 2019
What would it take to destroy your family?
Sleep-deprived doesn’t begin to describe Louisa’s state as she faces the joys of being a mom for the second time around her forties. With a teenager in the house, a busy husband, and a little boy to take care of, she is exhausted and living one day at a time. They say late pregnancies are more common every year, but they don’t say it is easy, and with a huge gap between her two kids, Louise is struggling to meet everyone’s demands. She doesn’t get much help from her better half, Brian, glued to his phone. I quickly realised no one seemed to understand the extent of Louisa’s tiredness. Memory loss and hallucinations don’t appear out of nowhere, and I felt bad for her as she put her baby and her herself in danger. The signs were not picked up and I wished for someone to open their eyes and simply get help!
This leads me to an important detail about this book. None of the characters were really likeable. Louisa whined a lot, Brian was blind to what was happening in his house and playing games I didn’t enjoy, her best friend Tiff could not have won the BFF award. With a world that had reduced to so few faces, I thought I’d be able to connect to someone, but it never happened. Yet, it didn’t prevent me from enjoying the novel, with a detached look and an itching urge to yell ‘Can someone stop making the worst decisions ever????’
Decisions… They are the spark that lights the novel on fire. With her birthday coming up, Tiff and Brian decide to organise a surprise party. Now, you see what I mean when I say no one truly paid enough attention to see that all Louisa needed was sleep instead of having to dress up and smile an entire evening? Worse, Tiff thought it would be nice to invite Louisa’s Facebook friends, including her ex-boyfriend… What kind of best friend does that? If mine ever even just thought of doing this, I’d kick them out of my life! I’ve never met half my Facebook friends! I enjoy chatting to people, but imagine finding yourself in a room full of old acquaintances? Horror!
The uneasiness which strikes Louisa when she comes face to face with Oliver, the man who broke her heart years ago, never leaves the pages. It only grows stronger as chapters go by. When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing, Louisa is forced to deal with Oliver, despite having no recollection of her party night. With her previous memory loss and hints that something happened in her past that her mind won’t let her remember, I realised Louisa is one of the most unreliable characters I’ve met. She was not willingly hiding things, but I had the feeling she couldn’t be honest with herself, or even with those around her.
From then on, Louisa gets trapped in a game of deceit, lies, and appearances. Determined to get to the bottom of things and get rid of Oliver, Louisa discovers her world is not in a better shape than she is! I really enjoyed watching each character play their part in this domestic noir. Why couldn’t Louisa remember her past, or even recall falling asleep? Where was Oliver’s wife? What had happened between them? It was as if I were reading the daily paper, devouring article after article describing the life of people who could be living next to me. Circumstances make it easy for life to hang threats above our heads, and Louisa gets a deadly reminder!
Sleep-deprived doesn’t begin to describe Louisa’s state as she faces the joys of being a mom for the second time around her forties. With a teenager in the house, a busy husband, and a little boy to take care of, she is exhausted and living one day at a time. They say late pregnancies are more common every year, but they don’t say it is easy, and with a huge gap between her two kids, Louise is struggling to meet everyone’s demands. She doesn’t get much help from her better half, Brian, glued to his phone. I quickly realised no one seemed to understand the extent of Louisa’s tiredness. Memory loss and hallucinations don’t appear out of nowhere, and I felt bad for her as she put her baby and her herself in danger. The signs were not picked up and I wished for someone to open their eyes and simply get help!
This leads me to an important detail about this book. None of the characters were really likeable. Louisa whined a lot, Brian was blind to what was happening in his house and playing games I didn’t enjoy, her best friend Tiff could not have won the BFF award. With a world that had reduced to so few faces, I thought I’d be able to connect to someone, but it never happened. Yet, it didn’t prevent me from enjoying the novel, with a detached look and an itching urge to yell ‘Can someone stop making the worst decisions ever????’
Decisions… They are the spark that lights the novel on fire. With her birthday coming up, Tiff and Brian decide to organise a surprise party. Now, you see what I mean when I say no one truly paid enough attention to see that all Louisa needed was sleep instead of having to dress up and smile an entire evening? Worse, Tiff thought it would be nice to invite Louisa’s Facebook friends, including her ex-boyfriend… What kind of best friend does that? If mine ever even just thought of doing this, I’d kick them out of my life! I’ve never met half my Facebook friends! I enjoy chatting to people, but imagine finding yourself in a room full of old acquaintances? Horror!
The uneasiness which strikes Louisa when she comes face to face with Oliver, the man who broke her heart years ago, never leaves the pages. It only grows stronger as chapters go by. When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing, Louisa is forced to deal with Oliver, despite having no recollection of her party night. With her previous memory loss and hints that something happened in her past that her mind won’t let her remember, I realised Louisa is one of the most unreliable characters I’ve met. She was not willingly hiding things, but I had the feeling she couldn’t be honest with herself, or even with those around her.
From then on, Louisa gets trapped in a game of deceit, lies, and appearances. Determined to get to the bottom of things and get rid of Oliver, Louisa discovers her world is not in a better shape than she is! I really enjoyed watching each character play their part in this domestic noir. Why couldn’t Louisa remember her past, or even recall falling asleep? Where was Oliver’s wife? What had happened between them? It was as if I were reading the daily paper, devouring article after article describing the life of people who could be living next to me. Circumstances make it easy for life to hang threats above our heads, and Louisa gets a deadly reminder!
May 15, 2019
The Missing Wife does not fulfill every promise to the readers. It is a nice enough read, but sometimes the reading is slow because of all the whining and moaning of Louisa, and sometimes things happen really fast, such as the ending. It is all a bit unbalanced in my view.
I'm not a mother so I wouldn't know about being too tired to do anything during the day but Louise takes this to a higher level, I think. Half of the time she doesn't know what she is doing because of being so tired, but the other half she doesn't know anything because she is too drunk.
Seriously, I sometimes felt it in my stomach, reading about the amounts of alcohol Louisa (and other people, like her best friend Tiff) drink. No wonder she cannot function properly.
Who the 'bad guy' is in this book is clear from the beginning, and the whole story has a feeling of being not quite finished. Except from Louisa the characters all stay a bit flat and there are a little too many coincidences to my taste.
But all in all, it was a nice book for some light reading.
Thanks to Netgally for this digital review copy.
I'm not a mother so I wouldn't know about being too tired to do anything during the day but Louise takes this to a higher level, I think. Half of the time she doesn't know what she is doing because of being so tired, but the other half she doesn't know anything because she is too drunk.
Seriously, I sometimes felt it in my stomach, reading about the amounts of alcohol Louisa (and other people, like her best friend Tiff) drink. No wonder she cannot function properly.
Who the 'bad guy' is in this book is clear from the beginning, and the whole story has a feeling of being not quite finished. Except from Louisa the characters all stay a bit flat and there are a little too many coincidences to my taste.
But all in all, it was a nice book for some light reading.
Thanks to Netgally for this digital review copy.
June 23, 2019
3.5 stars but rounded down.
I'm still not quite sure about this book even nearly a week after finishing. Yes, on the whole I did sort of enjoy it but, at the same time, there was just so much that simply didn't work for me along the way. With an ending that seemed to degenerate a bit into farce. It also didn't help that I failed to connect with pretty much all of the main characters so there wasn't even that lifeline for me to hold on to. We start with Louisa, new mother, suffering sleep deprivation, with scant help from her husband, although best friend Tiff appears supportive. So, what better plan to cheer her up than to throw her a surprise 40th birthday party. Oh yeah! What a great friend, just what she needs and wants! Especially when you consider the guest list is made up from Facebook friends - we all know how real they are! Surely nothing can go wrong...
And that's the premise the book relies on. An old college boyfriend, a dark secret from the past that now threatens the present, a missing person, alcohol, sleep deprivation, unreliable narrator. It all became a bit "thriller bingo" in the elements that made up the story. Inconsistent pacing also didn't help as it made the book feel a bit disjointed especially with all the twists, some of which coming a bit out of nowhere and occasionally a bit contrived.
All in all not the best read but not bad enough to sack the author off just yet. I have read and enjoyed two of the author's previous books so I guess this one just wasn't the right fit for me. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I'm still not quite sure about this book even nearly a week after finishing. Yes, on the whole I did sort of enjoy it but, at the same time, there was just so much that simply didn't work for me along the way. With an ending that seemed to degenerate a bit into farce. It also didn't help that I failed to connect with pretty much all of the main characters so there wasn't even that lifeline for me to hold on to. We start with Louisa, new mother, suffering sleep deprivation, with scant help from her husband, although best friend Tiff appears supportive. So, what better plan to cheer her up than to throw her a surprise 40th birthday party. Oh yeah! What a great friend, just what she needs and wants! Especially when you consider the guest list is made up from Facebook friends - we all know how real they are! Surely nothing can go wrong...
And that's the premise the book relies on. An old college boyfriend, a dark secret from the past that now threatens the present, a missing person, alcohol, sleep deprivation, unreliable narrator. It all became a bit "thriller bingo" in the elements that made up the story. Inconsistent pacing also didn't help as it made the book feel a bit disjointed especially with all the twists, some of which coming a bit out of nowhere and occasionally a bit contrived.
All in all not the best read but not bad enough to sack the author off just yet. I have read and enjoyed two of the author's previous books so I guess this one just wasn't the right fit for me. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
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