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The Secret Wife
What happens when the perfect family trip becomes the perfect nightmare?
Cara is a devoted mother to two little girls. She loves her hectic life, but she looks forward to a relaxing weekend alone while her husband, Michael, takes the kids on a camping trip.
But their dream trip turns into a nightmare when their daughters are taken, deep in the forest.
One is returned safe. But one is still missing.
As Cara and Michael frantically search for their little girl it becomes clear that this is no random abduction – her disappearance is linked to shocking secrets which are only now being revealed.
And Cara begins to wonder how well she really knows her husband. Is the stress making her paranoid? Or is she finally seeing him as he really is?
Time is running out. How far will Cara go to find her daughter?
Cara is a devoted mother to two little girls. She loves her hectic life, but she looks forward to a relaxing weekend alone while her husband, Michael, takes the kids on a camping trip.
But their dream trip turns into a nightmare when their daughters are taken, deep in the forest.
One is returned safe. But one is still missing.
As Cara and Michael frantically search for their little girl it becomes clear that this is no random abduction – her disappearance is linked to shocking secrets which are only now being revealed.
And Cara begins to wonder how well she really knows her husband. Is the stress making her paranoid? Or is she finally seeing him as he really is?
Time is running out. How far will Cara go to find her daughter?
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2021
643 people are currently reading
1677 people want to read
About the author
Emily Shiner
32 books931 followersEmily lives in the mountains of North Carolina and loves hiking with her dogs--only when she's not thinking up twisted tales, that is. She loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
April 18, 2023
3.75⭐ rounded up
Featuring ~ dual POV
So I feel like I've read many a book with a similar plot, but Emily made it her own and I can't fault her that.
Cara is looking for some alone time, so she sends her husband, Michael and 2 girls on a camping trip without her. When she notices that Laura has forgotten her beloved stuffed animal, Cara drives to the campsite to give it to her.
Michael has left the girls alone in the tent while he goes to the car to look for the stuffed animal. On his way there he runs into Cara. When they get back to the campsite they discover the girls are gone!
There were some heart pounding moments when they made the discovery and are frantically searching for Laura and Olivia. Olivia is returned, but who still has Laura?
Overall, I enjoyed this fast paced domestic/psychological, suspenseful thriller. There are plenty of secrets and lies ~ some good, some blah. I would give this author a whirl again.
Narration:
Natalie Duke & Wayne Mitchell ~ 7 hours and 13 minutes ~ and they did an alright job. I didn't love their opposite sex voices, his was worse than hers.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media LLC, Emily Shiner and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual POV
So I feel like I've read many a book with a similar plot, but Emily made it her own and I can't fault her that.
Cara is looking for some alone time, so she sends her husband, Michael and 2 girls on a camping trip without her. When she notices that Laura has forgotten her beloved stuffed animal, Cara drives to the campsite to give it to her.
Michael has left the girls alone in the tent while he goes to the car to look for the stuffed animal. On his way there he runs into Cara. When they get back to the campsite they discover the girls are gone!
There were some heart pounding moments when they made the discovery and are frantically searching for Laura and Olivia. Olivia is returned, but who still has Laura?
Overall, I enjoyed this fast paced domestic/psychological, suspenseful thriller. There are plenty of secrets and lies ~ some good, some blah. I would give this author a whirl again.
Narration:
Natalie Duke & Wayne Mitchell ~ 7 hours and 13 minutes ~ and they did an alright job. I didn't love their opposite sex voices, his was worse than hers.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media LLC, Emily Shiner and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
November 29, 2022
This thriller grabbed my attention and kept it throughout. The ending was slightly convoluted and unbelievable, but the first half kept me on the edge of my seat. The conclusion was surprising and added to my enjoyment. Not the best, but definitely not the worst. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook.
December 2, 2021
I hate to be a party pooper but I’m gonna be one of those (few) people who didn’t like this book. I apologise but the story turned out to be half-baked and downright lacking. Like, I wanted more, I wanted to feel more.
First off, the characters were ridiculously annoying and shallow. I was hoping that throughout the pages, I’d be able to see some major character developments, however, that didn’t happen. I think the author threw in the mental illness narrative to kind of push the motivations of one of the characters. I thought it would make sense. But sadly, it didn’t.
The plot twists were kind of meh and unexceptional. Like, “OK, that was it? Right.” The thing is, it started out so well. The writing was simple and easy to understand, I was totally expecting to be caught off guard by the unexpected twists and turns but it failed— big time. It was only a short read and I’m grateful for that because I’d probably have clawed my eyes out if it wasn’t.
Cheers to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC.
First off, the characters were ridiculously annoying and shallow. I was hoping that throughout the pages, I’d be able to see some major character developments, however, that didn’t happen. I think the author threw in the mental illness narrative to kind of push the motivations of one of the characters. I thought it would make sense. But sadly, it didn’t.
The plot twists were kind of meh and unexceptional. Like, “OK, that was it? Right.” The thing is, it started out so well. The writing was simple and easy to understand, I was totally expecting to be caught off guard by the unexpected twists and turns but it failed— big time. It was only a short read and I’m grateful for that because I’d probably have clawed my eyes out if it wasn’t.
Cheers to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC.
July 22, 2023
Oh, that Michael. Our seemingly perfect husband with his perfect little family. Him and all those secrets that he’s got tucked away. And what happens when the skeletons in someone’s closet start coming out? Absolute chaos, and that’s what this story became. I’m not clearing Cara of all the blame for what happened, but her husband was responsible for like 95% of it all. And, although he had some sort of convoluted, but decent, intentions, he was still a real scumbag for what he did to all the people involved. Some readers may agree with me, while others may side more with him. And that’s the joy of having the freedom of your own opinion! But poor Laura and Olivia being yanked into all this. They’re just little kids trying to survive their maladaptive parents. But the author’s writing was on point, the story was really good and kept my full attention, and, even if it felt like a little too much of a twist at the end, it all still flowed nicely.
July 5, 2022
GRIPPING. INTENSE. UTTERLY BINGE-WORTHY!
THE SECRET WIFE by Emily Shiner is a wickedly plotted CHILLING cat-and-mouse psycho-thriller brimming with dark delicious surprises and characters that won't let you go. Behind this perfect family are dark secrets, lies, and manipulation.
Darkly funny, I loved CARA! Her character is so bloody good! Going from the mild-mannered subservient wife to the powerhouse and one controlling the narrative.
AUDIOBOOK: I could not tear myself away while listening to the audio in one sitting throughout the day and evening. It was SPINE-TINGLING, narrated by Natalie Duke and Wayne Mitchell, perfect for all the voices. Downright creepy, in fact.
If you LOVE strong women (that you think are docile in the beginning) and ones who can get the upper hand, flipping it around on a misogynist manipulative evil man and outsmart him,—you are going to love this one!
From alternating POVs of Cara and Michael, we learn the innermost thoughts of both.
As the book opens, we briefly are at a campground in a tent with two girls. Someone is leading them out of the tent.
Back at the house, before the camping trip with Cara and Michael. He plans an overnight camping trip with the two daughters, Laura from his first marriage (deceased), and their biological daughter, Olivia.
Cara is looking forward to some R&R and a weekend of stay-at-home reading, bingeing, relaxing, and eating a lot of junk food without interruptions. This is Michael's first overnight trip with the girls, and Cara wants to ensure they have everything they need.
Right before they leave, the couple has a discussion. Michael (bad childhood) wants a ton of children. He is very controlling and thinks he runs the show. He must have a perfectly orchestrated life. A narcissist, he thinks very highly of himself, and things must go as he plans. He is also a bank manager and the breadwinner.
What is he hiding? PLENTY!
Cara is now a stay-at-home mom and a great mother. She married him after his first wife died and has done an outstanding job raising his daughter. She does not want any more children. Cara is secretly taking birth control pills as well as her other little pill to keep her intact (mental health). He must keep her in check.
However, right after they leave, she learns Laura has forgotten her stuffed animal, Mr. Purple, that her mom gave her and will not be able to sleep without him.
Also, there is a strange man in front of her house and Cara realizes it is the same homeless-looking man they saw at the restaurant the night before and Michael seemed weird. She also is in the attic and sees something that is also strange.
With poor cell phone service in the mountains, she decides to drive to the campground with Mr. Purple. However, when they arrive back at the tent, they find the girls are missing. Michael left them alone in the tent in the forest away from other campers next to the river in a remote area, while he went to the car to look for the stuffed animal. They were to remain there.
Cara is beside herself why Michael left the girls in the middle of the woods alone. A full-blown investigation by the authorities is now underway. Michael of course does not take the blame. Not his fault, of course.
Cara saw things and as a child, they put her on medication - the pills. Now she decides she does not need the little pills in order to deal with her missing daughter and what her husband is hiding She needs to think clearly. Focus. She needs to be alert.
Two pills. Each morning she takes them to protect her. One keeps her from having another baby. The other pill keeps her from succumbing to the sorrow that can grow and take over. But she must find her daughters.
"Only one tiny pill stands between me and that darkness, and I'm not sure if I took it this morning."
And man, when she goes off the pills, her personality changes from the sweet little wife that Michael thinks he can run over and manipulate to the focused and determined Mama Bear terminator!
Then later, back at the campground, Olivia mysteriously shows up in the tent, zipped up, but Laura is still missing.
Gosh, I love her new personality! Watch out, Michael, TICK TOK! Your lies, secrets, and past are about to be unraveled. The scene in the attic and at the inn was priceless!
While they frantically search for Laura, it becomes clear that this is no random abduction —her disappearance is linked to shocking secrets that are only now being revealed.
How far will Cara go to find her daughter? How well does she really know her husband? Is she paranoid, crazy, or right on? Time is running out. A tenacious mother fights for her children's lives while trying to unravel her husband's secret life.
"Riveting suspense, shocking revelations, and pitch-perfect dialogue make this one a WINNER. With multi-twists and a breakneck pace, THE SECRET WIFE is an utterly compelling thriller where nothing is as it appears to the satisfying conclusion."
What I love about #NetGalley and #Dreamscape is the opportunity to discover new authors and titles that generally would not be on my radar. In addition, the audiobook had some negative reviews about the narration, but thank goodness I did not let those influence my decision to request the audio. Just an example, you cannot always go by reviews. Everyone has a different take on books, genres, and narrators. I loved the KILLER TWIST and looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I read a lot of thrillers and many are audio. I adore ones with dark humor. Fans of Kaira Rouda, Hannah Mary McKinnon, and Kimberly Belle will enjoy this one.
A special thank you to #DREAMSCAPE Media and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen, enjoy, and review this one. I also loved it so much that I purchased the e-book.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
July 2022 Must-ReadBooks List
THE SECRET WIFE by Emily Shiner is a wickedly plotted CHILLING cat-and-mouse psycho-thriller brimming with dark delicious surprises and characters that won't let you go. Behind this perfect family are dark secrets, lies, and manipulation.
Darkly funny, I loved CARA! Her character is so bloody good! Going from the mild-mannered subservient wife to the powerhouse and one controlling the narrative.
AUDIOBOOK: I could not tear myself away while listening to the audio in one sitting throughout the day and evening. It was SPINE-TINGLING, narrated by Natalie Duke and Wayne Mitchell, perfect for all the voices. Downright creepy, in fact.
If you LOVE strong women (that you think are docile in the beginning) and ones who can get the upper hand, flipping it around on a misogynist manipulative evil man and outsmart him,—you are going to love this one!
From alternating POVs of Cara and Michael, we learn the innermost thoughts of both.
As the book opens, we briefly are at a campground in a tent with two girls. Someone is leading them out of the tent.
Back at the house, before the camping trip with Cara and Michael. He plans an overnight camping trip with the two daughters, Laura from his first marriage (deceased), and their biological daughter, Olivia.
Cara is looking forward to some R&R and a weekend of stay-at-home reading, bingeing, relaxing, and eating a lot of junk food without interruptions. This is Michael's first overnight trip with the girls, and Cara wants to ensure they have everything they need.
Right before they leave, the couple has a discussion. Michael (bad childhood) wants a ton of children. He is very controlling and thinks he runs the show. He must have a perfectly orchestrated life. A narcissist, he thinks very highly of himself, and things must go as he plans. He is also a bank manager and the breadwinner.
What is he hiding? PLENTY!
Cara is now a stay-at-home mom and a great mother. She married him after his first wife died and has done an outstanding job raising his daughter. She does not want any more children. Cara is secretly taking birth control pills as well as her other little pill to keep her intact (mental health). He must keep her in check.
However, right after they leave, she learns Laura has forgotten her stuffed animal, Mr. Purple, that her mom gave her and will not be able to sleep without him.
Also, there is a strange man in front of her house and Cara realizes it is the same homeless-looking man they saw at the restaurant the night before and Michael seemed weird. She also is in the attic and sees something that is also strange.
With poor cell phone service in the mountains, she decides to drive to the campground with Mr. Purple. However, when they arrive back at the tent, they find the girls are missing. Michael left them alone in the tent in the forest away from other campers next to the river in a remote area, while he went to the car to look for the stuffed animal. They were to remain there.
Cara is beside herself why Michael left the girls in the middle of the woods alone. A full-blown investigation by the authorities is now underway. Michael of course does not take the blame. Not his fault, of course.
Cara saw things and as a child, they put her on medication - the pills. Now she decides she does not need the little pills in order to deal with her missing daughter and what her husband is hiding She needs to think clearly. Focus. She needs to be alert.
Two pills. Each morning she takes them to protect her. One keeps her from having another baby. The other pill keeps her from succumbing to the sorrow that can grow and take over. But she must find her daughters.
"Only one tiny pill stands between me and that darkness, and I'm not sure if I took it this morning."
And man, when she goes off the pills, her personality changes from the sweet little wife that Michael thinks he can run over and manipulate to the focused and determined Mama Bear terminator!
Then later, back at the campground, Olivia mysteriously shows up in the tent, zipped up, but Laura is still missing.
Gosh, I love her new personality! Watch out, Michael, TICK TOK! Your lies, secrets, and past are about to be unraveled. The scene in the attic and at the inn was priceless!
While they frantically search for Laura, it becomes clear that this is no random abduction —her disappearance is linked to shocking secrets that are only now being revealed.
How far will Cara go to find her daughter? How well does she really know her husband? Is she paranoid, crazy, or right on? Time is running out. A tenacious mother fights for her children's lives while trying to unravel her husband's secret life.
"Riveting suspense, shocking revelations, and pitch-perfect dialogue make this one a WINNER. With multi-twists and a breakneck pace, THE SECRET WIFE is an utterly compelling thriller where nothing is as it appears to the satisfying conclusion."
What I love about #NetGalley and #Dreamscape is the opportunity to discover new authors and titles that generally would not be on my radar. In addition, the audiobook had some negative reviews about the narration, but thank goodness I did not let those influence my decision to request the audio. Just an example, you cannot always go by reviews. Everyone has a different take on books, genres, and narrators. I loved the KILLER TWIST and looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I read a lot of thrillers and many are audio. I adore ones with dark humor. Fans of Kaira Rouda, Hannah Mary McKinnon, and Kimberly Belle will enjoy this one.
A special thank you to #DREAMSCAPE Media and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen, enjoy, and review this one. I also loved it so much that I purchased the e-book.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
July 2022 Must-ReadBooks List
December 7, 2021
The Secret Wife by Emily Shiner was an exciting, page turning, domestic thriller. I really enjoyed the premise of the story and I loved Cara, one of the main characters. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but all in all it was a very enjoyable read,
December 16, 2021
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Secret Wife is a fast paced domestic thriller.
Michael and Cara are happily married and Michael decides to take their daughters away for a camping trip and let Cara have a rest at home.
The night before they go away, a strange man approaches them in the restaurant they are eating in. Then Cara sees him standing outside their home.
During the camping trip, Michael leaves both children alone for half an hour while he goes back to the car to look for a Teddy. When he returns with Cara (who turns up) the children are missing.
The story gets really interesting after this and I loved the twist. I was very disappointed with the ending though and thought it could have been much better than it was. The story itself kept me gripped from the first few chapters. Neither Michael nor Cara are very likeable characters and I can't make my mind up who I disliked the most - however this made the story that much more enjoyable.
The Secret Wife is a fast paced domestic thriller.
Michael and Cara are happily married and Michael decides to take their daughters away for a camping trip and let Cara have a rest at home.
The night before they go away, a strange man approaches them in the restaurant they are eating in. Then Cara sees him standing outside their home.
During the camping trip, Michael leaves both children alone for half an hour while he goes back to the car to look for a Teddy. When he returns with Cara (who turns up) the children are missing.
The story gets really interesting after this and I loved the twist. I was very disappointed with the ending though and thought it could have been much better than it was. The story itself kept me gripped from the first few chapters. Neither Michael nor Cara are very likeable characters and I can't make my mind up who I disliked the most - however this made the story that much more enjoyable.
December 7, 2021
This was a quick and action-packed read that only kind of hit the mark for me. It centers on married couple Michael and Cara- Cara needs a break after raising their 2 young girls and Michael takes them camping for the weekend. Almost as soon as they get there, the girls go missing.
The chapters alternate between Cara and Michael’s POV, which keeps the book moving at a fast clip, though neither character is super likable. I felt like while there was action, there really weren’t that many twists, though.
All in all, fun read that moved really fast even if the twists weren’t all that shocking. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The chapters alternate between Cara and Michael’s POV, which keeps the book moving at a fast clip, though neither character is super likable. I felt like while there was action, there really weren’t that many twists, though.
All in all, fun read that moved really fast even if the twists weren’t all that shocking. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 5, 2022
Title: The Secret Wife
Author: Emily Sliver
Audiobook Narrators: Wayne Mitchel and Natalie Duke
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: July 5, 2022 Happy Pub Day ~ Emily Sliver!
My Rating: 4 Stars
Michael and Cara are happily married with two young daughters. Before marrying Cara, Michael was married and has young daughter Laura. His wife died and left both he and his young daughter heartbroken. Now Cara is mommy to both girls and has been a very busy mom. Michael decides to give Cara a mommy break and is taking the girls on a weekend camping trip. During the camping trip, Michael leaves both the girls alone while he goes back to the car to find Mr. Purple, a much loved stuffed bear. When he returns to the camp site the girls are missing.
After a search, one is found but the search continues for the other. However, we know from reading the Prologue, the kidnapper only wanted to take Laura.
Story is told in the POV of Michael and Cara. Story kept me very curious. I had my suspicions and was very close ~ (I do read a lot of psychological thrillers and try my best to figure out the hidden twists!)
Although Michael and Cara the happy couple are such a mess, this story turned out better than I expected!
BTW: I love audiobooks but have to admit~ I am a narrator snob. Natalie Duke did a great job with performing the characters. Wayne Mitchel did a good job in performing Michael and the other males but not so much with the female characters.
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this early Audio Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 5, 2022
Author: Emily Sliver
Audiobook Narrators: Wayne Mitchel and Natalie Duke
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: July 5, 2022 Happy Pub Day ~ Emily Sliver!
My Rating: 4 Stars
Michael and Cara are happily married with two young daughters. Before marrying Cara, Michael was married and has young daughter Laura. His wife died and left both he and his young daughter heartbroken. Now Cara is mommy to both girls and has been a very busy mom. Michael decides to give Cara a mommy break and is taking the girls on a weekend camping trip. During the camping trip, Michael leaves both the girls alone while he goes back to the car to find Mr. Purple, a much loved stuffed bear. When he returns to the camp site the girls are missing.
After a search, one is found but the search continues for the other. However, we know from reading the Prologue, the kidnapper only wanted to take Laura.
Story is told in the POV of Michael and Cara. Story kept me very curious. I had my suspicions and was very close ~ (I do read a lot of psychological thrillers and try my best to figure out the hidden twists!)
Although Michael and Cara the happy couple are such a mess, this story turned out better than I expected!
BTW: I love audiobooks but have to admit~ I am a narrator snob. Natalie Duke did a great job with performing the characters. Wayne Mitchel did a good job in performing Michael and the other males but not so much with the female characters.
Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this early Audio Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 5, 2022
July 12, 2022
Rating: 4.5
WOW! This one was really good. I listened to the audiobook in two days and wish I could have finished even faster! I finished the book then immediately said out loud ‘That was great’. Then I just sat there for a few minutes just thinking about the overall story.
This story wasn’t perfect, of course it had its issues. However, the issues in my opinion are so small and didn’t bother me or take away from my enjoyment. I saw several one stars due to how mental illness was handled. Personally, I think the author handled it well and I feel as though it fits with the thriller aspect. With that being said I always recommend readers check out the CWs.
This was such a quick read and I love that the pacing matched that of a thriller. It was really fast paced but even with the fast pacing the reader doesn’t miss out on any important details or setup. The writing was simple and easy to follow and I liked the length of the chapters. While I didn’t find the twists to be shocking or surprising and I did figure out what was happening early on it didn’t ruin the story. I still had fun coming up with other theories and listening to see how it would all come together. The narrators did such a fantastic job and made it feel like I was listening to a movie.
I would definitely recommend this one. It was a solid thriller that will keep you engaged until the very last page. I want to say more but due to spoilers I am limiting myself. Go into this one with as little knowledge as possible!
Thank you so much @dreamscapemedia for the gifted copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
WOW! This one was really good. I listened to the audiobook in two days and wish I could have finished even faster! I finished the book then immediately said out loud ‘That was great’. Then I just sat there for a few minutes just thinking about the overall story.
This story wasn’t perfect, of course it had its issues. However, the issues in my opinion are so small and didn’t bother me or take away from my enjoyment. I saw several one stars due to how mental illness was handled. Personally, I think the author handled it well and I feel as though it fits with the thriller aspect. With that being said I always recommend readers check out the CWs.
This was such a quick read and I love that the pacing matched that of a thriller. It was really fast paced but even with the fast pacing the reader doesn’t miss out on any important details or setup. The writing was simple and easy to follow and I liked the length of the chapters. While I didn’t find the twists to be shocking or surprising and I did figure out what was happening early on it didn’t ruin the story. I still had fun coming up with other theories and listening to see how it would all come together. The narrators did such a fantastic job and made it feel like I was listening to a movie.
I would definitely recommend this one. It was a solid thriller that will keep you engaged until the very last page. I want to say more but due to spoilers I am limiting myself. Go into this one with as little knowledge as possible!
Thank you so much @dreamscapemedia for the gifted copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 6, 2022
I had such high hopes for The Secret Wife. I live a good domestic thriller. However, this one just didn't live up to the hype. It started out interesting and with promise, but didn't stay that way. Technically, I'm here to review the audio, so here goes. I'm one of those people that can listen to almost any narrator and enjoy the book. This was honestly the worst narration I've heard in a long while, if ever. I prefer a single narrator or a narrator for each gender. This switched back and forth between a female and male, per chapter. The male was awful for every character other than himself. It was grating. The kids especially sounded like demons. Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2021
Cara is married to Michael & they have two little girls; Laura & Olivia. Michael takes the girls on an overnight camping trip so that Cara can have some much needed alone time, but when he leaves the girls alone for a short time, when he returns they have disappeared. The police are called & Cara remembers a couple of times when a strange man has tried to get Michael's attention & been loitering outside their home, but Michael claims it is all a coincidence & that he doesn't know the man. Cara is sure he is lying but why would he not tell the police all he knows? When they find Olivia but not Laura, Cara is determined to find out what happened.
I was looking forward to this one due to the synopsis, but it was a little disappointing. The narration flips between Cara & Michael, but yet again, we have a unreliable female viewpoint due to mental illness which I think has been done to death over the recent years. Neither Cara or Michael are particularly nice people, the more the reader sees from their viewpoints, you realise how selfish both of them are. Most of the twist was pretty easy to work out too. Overall, it isn't a bad read but it could have been better.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Inkubator, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I was looking forward to this one due to the synopsis, but it was a little disappointing. The narration flips between Cara & Michael, but yet again, we have a unreliable female viewpoint due to mental illness which I think has been done to death over the recent years. Neither Cara or Michael are particularly nice people, the more the reader sees from their viewpoints, you realise how selfish both of them are. Most of the twist was pretty easy to work out too. Overall, it isn't a bad read but it could have been better.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Inkubator, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
July 27, 2022
Cara and Michael have two little girls, Laura is his daughter from a previous marriage and Olivia is their's together. Cara needs a weekend break, so Michael takes the girls camping. When Laura is missing her teddy bear Michael goes to the car to look for it and when he comes back the girls are both missing. Who took them and why??
I listened to the audiobook of THE SECRET WIFE and I enjoyed it. There were some pretty crazy things that happened along the way and some answers were revealed about past events. I really didn't like any of these characters, but the overall story was different than anything I have read lately and I appreciated that. I would definitely read more books by Emily Shiner.
This review will be posted on my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews)in the near future.
I listened to the audiobook of THE SECRET WIFE and I enjoyed it. There were some pretty crazy things that happened along the way and some answers were revealed about past events. I really didn't like any of these characters, but the overall story was different than anything I have read lately and I appreciated that. I would definitely read more books by Emily Shiner.
This review will be posted on my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews)in the near future.
June 30, 2022
Mental. Illness. Is. Not. A. Plot. Device.
February 14, 2022
A missing child trope was my favorite, and this book ticked all the right boxes. A camping trip, father and two girls, girls left alone, both gone. Then one came back, secrets slowly unfurled.
How it made me feel
Obsessed and addicted. I couldn’t seem to stop reading it even with my work and chores pending.
The writing was vivid, and projected the correct imagery and emotions that were needed to capture my mind.
The Good
Fast-paced and short chapters with a twist every few chapters, the author Emily Shine knew how to write a thriller.
I had to explore her author page to know she had written many other thrillers. So if all had been written in the same vein, then her books would provide me hours of bliss with thrills rocking my heart.
The Bad
The story was predictable. It was actually sad that the title revealed it all. When I read the backstory of the characters, I knew the entire plot line. The publishers and author ought to be careful about that.
The Conclusion
The author’s writing was still worth the time I spent on it, which was less than 3 hours. I need to read a couple more to know if she would be my auto-download author. Looking forward to that.
How it made me feel
Obsessed and addicted. I couldn’t seem to stop reading it even with my work and chores pending.
The writing was vivid, and projected the correct imagery and emotions that were needed to capture my mind.
The Good
Fast-paced and short chapters with a twist every few chapters, the author Emily Shine knew how to write a thriller.
I had to explore her author page to know she had written many other thrillers. So if all had been written in the same vein, then her books would provide me hours of bliss with thrills rocking my heart.
The Bad
The story was predictable. It was actually sad that the title revealed it all. When I read the backstory of the characters, I knew the entire plot line. The publishers and author ought to be careful about that.
The Conclusion
The author’s writing was still worth the time I spent on it, which was less than 3 hours. I need to read a couple more to know if she would be my auto-download author. Looking forward to that.
April 20, 2023
This was an fine book to read as a filler. I was able to figure everything out pretty early on in the book. The twist at the was one that I didn’t see coming however, it was not a believable ending unfortunately. I wish I would have liked this book more than I did.
February 18, 2022
#TheSecretWife #NetGalley.
Only read this book when you have time to read it in one sitting.
why? I don't think anyone can abandon a book about a kidnapped little girl.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher with providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is told from Cara and Michael's points of view in alternating chapters.
Cara was thrilled to spend a weekend alone reading and relaxing while her husband took their girls camping. Cara was Michael's second wife.
Plans changed when Cara noticed Mr Purple, Laura's favorite bear stayed home. Since she knew how attached Laura was to the bear she decided to drive up and spend the weekend with her family.
When she arrived she discovered the Laura was missing, just vanished seemingly into thin air.
The rest of the story involved searching for Laura, and well secrets came out as well.
What kept me reading was I had to know whether Laura would be found or not. Of Course I had to know.
Now did I find out? I will not tell of course. I will say it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon following this family and the twists and turns kept coming which kept me reading.
So I recommend this book for people who enjoy thrillers and books about lost children. And family drama and secrets.
4 *****
review posted to netgalley, amazon, Goodreads and wordpress
Only read this book when you have time to read it in one sitting.
why? I don't think anyone can abandon a book about a kidnapped little girl.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher with providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is told from Cara and Michael's points of view in alternating chapters.
Cara was thrilled to spend a weekend alone reading and relaxing while her husband took their girls camping. Cara was Michael's second wife.
Plans changed when Cara noticed Mr Purple, Laura's favorite bear stayed home. Since she knew how attached Laura was to the bear she decided to drive up and spend the weekend with her family.
When she arrived she discovered the Laura was missing, just vanished seemingly into thin air.
The rest of the story involved searching for Laura, and well secrets came out as well.
What kept me reading was I had to know whether Laura would be found or not. Of Course I had to know.
Now did I find out? I will not tell of course. I will say it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon following this family and the twists and turns kept coming which kept me reading.
So I recommend this book for people who enjoy thrillers and books about lost children. And family drama and secrets.
4 *****
review posted to netgalley, amazon, Goodreads and wordpress
July 18, 2022
The Secret Wife was a thrilling ride. I finished in two days. I tried to guess the twists, which I did for one of them but not all of them! It was a great story to listen to. Great audiobook narrators in my opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 9, 2022
Great for fans of Shari Lapena’s The Couple Next Door.
Michael, a successful bank branch manager, and his wife Cara, are having a date night. Between bites of spaghetti, they’re discussing his upcoming camping trip. He’s taking the girls and this will be her first real weekend away from them. She is on strict orders to nap, order in, and pamper herself. She is both excited and nervous.
We then learn from Michael, this story is told from husband and wife dual POVs, that he wants a huge family because he lost his as a kid. It is pretty tone deaf since he already isn’t home much and she had a tough pregnancy. They have one daughter together and one is from his previous relationship with his now deceased ex-wife. She loves the child like her own and feels their life is full as is.
Dad and girls arrive at the camping site and figure out the oldest left her stuffed animal at home. Cara found it, and spooked being home alone and missing the fam anyway, she uses it as an excuse to go find them for the night but by the time they meet and make it back to camp, the kids are missing.
He had left the kids 30 minutes away in a tent. What could go wrong?! The cops get involved, everyone’s looking, but they find Olivia, their shared daughter. It’s Laura, his child from before, that appears to be the target.
Things with Laura were strange early on. Laura spoke of her mom in the present tense for a long time and it’s obvious Michael knows more than he is sharing with her or the police. Why isn’t he telling everything he knows when every second counts? Your past will come back to haunt you every time.
This was good but had a really abrupt ending, leaving me with questions. Also I didn’t love the “she’s crazy if she misses one of her crazy pills” trope. I became okay with the dual narration. It was interesting to hear the different sides because they didn’t always match up and that is reality. The story was interesting though and kept me guessing.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher! I received the audio and the narration was great. Available now!
Michael, a successful bank branch manager, and his wife Cara, are having a date night. Between bites of spaghetti, they’re discussing his upcoming camping trip. He’s taking the girls and this will be her first real weekend away from them. She is on strict orders to nap, order in, and pamper herself. She is both excited and nervous.
We then learn from Michael, this story is told from husband and wife dual POVs, that he wants a huge family because he lost his as a kid. It is pretty tone deaf since he already isn’t home much and she had a tough pregnancy. They have one daughter together and one is from his previous relationship with his now deceased ex-wife. She loves the child like her own and feels their life is full as is.
Dad and girls arrive at the camping site and figure out the oldest left her stuffed animal at home. Cara found it, and spooked being home alone and missing the fam anyway, she uses it as an excuse to go find them for the night but by the time they meet and make it back to camp, the kids are missing.
He had left the kids 30 minutes away in a tent. What could go wrong?! The cops get involved, everyone’s looking, but they find Olivia, their shared daughter. It’s Laura, his child from before, that appears to be the target.
Things with Laura were strange early on. Laura spoke of her mom in the present tense for a long time and it’s obvious Michael knows more than he is sharing with her or the police. Why isn’t he telling everything he knows when every second counts? Your past will come back to haunt you every time.
This was good but had a really abrupt ending, leaving me with questions. Also I didn’t love the “she’s crazy if she misses one of her crazy pills” trope. I became okay with the dual narration. It was interesting to hear the different sides because they didn’t always match up and that is reality. The story was interesting though and kept me guessing.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher! I received the audio and the narration was great. Available now!
February 14, 2022
#TheSecretWife #NetGalley.
Only read this book when you have time to read it in one sitting.
why? I don't think anyone can abandon a book about a kidnapped little girl.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher with providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is told from Cara and Michael's points of view in alternating chapters.
Cara was thrilled to spend a weekend alone reading and relaxing while her husband took their girls camping. Cara was Michael's second wife.
Plans changed when Cara noticed Mr Purple, Laura's favorite bear stayed home. Since she knew how attached Laura was to the bear she decided to drive up and spend the weekend with her family.
When she arrived she discovered the Laura was missing, just vanished seemingly into thin air.
The rest of the story involved searching for Laura, and well secrets came out as well.
What kept me reading was I had to know whether Laura would be found or not. Of Course I had to know.
Now did I find out? I will not tell of course. I will say it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon following this family and the twists and turns kept coming which kept me reading.
So I recommend this book for people who enjoy thrillers and books about lost children. And family drama and secrets.
4 *****
review posted to netgalley, amazon, Goodreads and wordpress.
Only read this book when you have time to read it in one sitting.
why? I don't think anyone can abandon a book about a kidnapped little girl.
Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher with providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is told from Cara and Michael's points of view in alternating chapters.
Cara was thrilled to spend a weekend alone reading and relaxing while her husband took their girls camping. Cara was Michael's second wife.
Plans changed when Cara noticed Mr Purple, Laura's favorite bear stayed home. Since she knew how attached Laura was to the bear she decided to drive up and spend the weekend with her family.
When she arrived she discovered the Laura was missing, just vanished seemingly into thin air.
The rest of the story involved searching for Laura, and well secrets came out as well.
What kept me reading was I had to know whether Laura would be found or not. Of Course I had to know.
Now did I find out? I will not tell of course. I will say it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon following this family and the twists and turns kept coming which kept me reading.
So I recommend this book for people who enjoy thrillers and books about lost children. And family drama and secrets.
4 *****
review posted to netgalley, amazon, Goodreads and wordpress.
June 28, 2022
Cara and Michael are a young couple who love their little girls. Michael wants more children, and he believes he can persuade his wife for more children. The oldest daughter is from a previous marriage.
🏕
Michael takes the girls tent camping and the girls are excited letting their mom have a relaxing weekend. Cara has shown up to give one their daughters a beloved toy, but when they both go back to the tent the girls are missing. How can Michael leave the girls alone?
🏕
The hunt begins, and accusations are thrown. One girl returns, the other still missing!
🏕
The title alone tells you a clue! Cara is lead to believe the oldest daughters mom died! This book is absolutely riveting!
🏕
This audiobook is available July 5, 2022. Thank you @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia and @emilyshiner for this advanced audio.
#dreamscapemedia, #audiobook, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50, #netgalley
🏕
Michael takes the girls tent camping and the girls are excited letting their mom have a relaxing weekend. Cara has shown up to give one their daughters a beloved toy, but when they both go back to the tent the girls are missing. How can Michael leave the girls alone?
🏕
The hunt begins, and accusations are thrown. One girl returns, the other still missing!
🏕
The title alone tells you a clue! Cara is lead to believe the oldest daughters mom died! This book is absolutely riveting!
🏕
This audiobook is available July 5, 2022. Thank you @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia and @emilyshiner for this advanced audio.
#dreamscapemedia, #audiobook, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50, #netgalley
July 6, 2022
3.75 stars
Oooooookay. This story was a bit of a wild ride. It was dramatic, suspenseful, and twisty. The story pulled me in right away, some of the major characters absolutely infuriated me, and the ultimate conclusion was pretty satisfying. I really enjoyed this thriller-y adventure.
I listened to this one as an audiobook, and it has dual narrators (one male, one female), which is fine. I’ve listened to books from the male narrator before, and oh my god. I didn’t realize it was the same one until I had already started it, but I absolutely hate the way he reads female characters. He uses this awful tone of voice that absolutely grates on my nerves, and unfortunately, his voice for child characters isn’t any better. Yikes. Definitely not for me.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oooooookay. This story was a bit of a wild ride. It was dramatic, suspenseful, and twisty. The story pulled me in right away, some of the major characters absolutely infuriated me, and the ultimate conclusion was pretty satisfying. I really enjoyed this thriller-y adventure.
I listened to this one as an audiobook, and it has dual narrators (one male, one female), which is fine. I’ve listened to books from the male narrator before, and oh my god. I didn’t realize it was the same one until I had already started it, but I absolutely hate the way he reads female characters. He uses this awful tone of voice that absolutely grates on my nerves, and unfortunately, his voice for child characters isn’t any better. Yikes. Definitely not for me.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2022
A domestic thriller that is told through the POV of the two main characters, Cara and Michael. There are alternating chapters, each telling their versions of events. Cara thought that she had found her Prince Charming, a widower with a young child and he is a good provider. She and Michael have their own child, but he wants to expand their family even more. Michael put up a facade of this perfect husband, but cracks starts to show. He takes their children on a camping trip and a tragic event occurs. After this event, dark secrets start to emerge. Cara who is considered to be the perfect and docile wife, but she begins to find her strength and voice throughout the story. The surprise twist at the end of the story brings the whole story to focus.
“Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the DRC.”
“Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the DRC.”
July 11, 2022
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed both the male and female narrators. They were spot on with their reactions and really helped me become immersed in the book. As far as the story goes, I’ve always liked an unreliable narrator but this story had many and I couldn’t tell who to believe for a while because they all seemed shady! I was hoping it was headed in a different, less predictable direction but I was sad that I saw it coming. It was still a decent story and well written.
Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed both the male and female narrators. They were spot on with their reactions and really helped me become immersed in the book. As far as the story goes, I’ve always liked an unreliable narrator but this story had many and I couldn’t tell who to believe for a while because they all seemed shady! I was hoping it was headed in a different, less predictable direction but I was sad that I saw it coming. It was still a decent story and well written.
April 6, 2022
This book was going great right up til the end then the ending had a big wtf did I just read? But not in a good way lol it just seemed to be too rushed , too much at once
July 17, 2025
8.5/10! Loved this one! I will never hold an audiobook narration against a book but I’ll let you know, Michael’s voice (especially when impersonating Kara) was insufferable lol. It was rushed at the end for sure. Otherwise, really good
July 15, 2022
A somewhat predictable mystery– see title– yet still fairly enjoyable. Plus, who doesn't enjoy vehemently hating a villain?
July 3, 2022
I wanted to like this book. But it just wasn’t for me. The premise is that Michael takes his two young daughters on a camping trip and they are kidnapped. One comes back.
There are things in the story that have nothing to do with the main plot, and they don’t really help/support the plot (ie, mental illness, bi-polar) either. People show up later in the book that tie into the main plot, but they bring a secondary plot that doesn’t get explained or fleshed out well and it fell flat. The ending fell flat, too.
Overall, the storyline was weak and characters weren’t really developed. Also, the name of the book was flimsy. It didn’t really speak to the storyline, IMO. This will be forgettable. Which is unfortunate. 1-2 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
There are things in the story that have nothing to do with the main plot, and they don’t really help/support the plot (ie, mental illness, bi-polar) either. People show up later in the book that tie into the main plot, but they bring a secondary plot that doesn’t get explained or fleshed out well and it fell flat. The ending fell flat, too.
Overall, the storyline was weak and characters weren’t really developed. Also, the name of the book was flimsy. It didn’t really speak to the storyline, IMO. This will be forgettable. Which is unfortunate. 1-2 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
July 12, 2022
This was my first book by this author! And it was a fast paced thriller! I finished it in a few day! I did the audiobook Version and the narrators did a great jobs! We have what we think is a sweet little family, Michael the father, Cara the mother and two little girls Laura and Olivia. Laura is from Michaels first marriage that he says the wife has died and Olivia is the baby from his marriage with Kara. But Kara has fallen in love with Laura and sees her as her own daughter.
Michael has a camping trip planned for him in the two girls why Cara has a weekend alone at home. But the camping trip doesn’t go as planned when Michael has to leave the girls to go back to the car and when he comes back they are gone than a few hours later Olivia shows back up but not Laura.
As this story goes on we learn some stuff about Michael and that he isn’t what Cara thought he was and he is hiding some stuff from her. Cara also had been taking some medications for mental health sense she was younger but when her daughter goes missing she stops taking them and realizes how much her senses have dulled why taking them and she finally sees what is going on in front of her and she makes a plan and will stop at nothing to get her daughter back.
This was full was twist and turns and kept me guessing through out the whole book and I really enjoyed it! And that ending! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook for review!
Michael has a camping trip planned for him in the two girls why Cara has a weekend alone at home. But the camping trip doesn’t go as planned when Michael has to leave the girls to go back to the car and when he comes back they are gone than a few hours later Olivia shows back up but not Laura.
As this story goes on we learn some stuff about Michael and that he isn’t what Cara thought he was and he is hiding some stuff from her. Cara also had been taking some medications for mental health sense she was younger but when her daughter goes missing she stops taking them and realizes how much her senses have dulled why taking them and she finally sees what is going on in front of her and she makes a plan and will stop at nothing to get her daughter back.
This was full was twist and turns and kept me guessing through out the whole book and I really enjoyed it! And that ending! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook for review!
July 14, 2022
Thank you so much to @netgalley and @authoremilyshiner for this audio ARC of The Secret Wife in exchange for an honest review!
This was an incredibly gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat until the very last sentence. The dual perspectives of Kara and Michael added an intriguing element to the "who-dun-it" style, and I loved that their distinct styles resonated throughout the unfolding of the story. The twists were believable, and I enjoyed the eyebrow-raising moments of surprise that came along with them. The narrators voices were pretty good, and I think that they added a lot to the character development (even though I felt like their "little kid voices" were sort of annoying).
My only criticism is that I didn't love the ending. I felt like while the author set it up to be really intense, the follow-through felt very abrupt. I wish we could have gotten a little epilogue of their life at the end. Kara got to have her diatribe and final conversation with Michael, but we didn't really see the result of how that conversation concluded. But overall it is one that I would recommend to fans of domestic thrillers!
This was an incredibly gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat until the very last sentence. The dual perspectives of Kara and Michael added an intriguing element to the "who-dun-it" style, and I loved that their distinct styles resonated throughout the unfolding of the story. The twists were believable, and I enjoyed the eyebrow-raising moments of surprise that came along with them. The narrators voices were pretty good, and I think that they added a lot to the character development (even though I felt like their "little kid voices" were sort of annoying).
My only criticism is that I didn't love the ending. I felt like while the author set it up to be really intense, the follow-through felt very abrupt. I wish we could have gotten a little epilogue of their life at the end. Kara got to have her diatribe and final conversation with Michael, but we didn't really see the result of how that conversation concluded. But overall it is one that I would recommend to fans of domestic thrillers!
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