What do you think?
Rate this book
PI Vince Reid #1
The Wrong Woman
'A twisty small-town PI mystery with a protagonist I didn't want to let go' - IAN RANKIN
A private investigator returning to the hometown he fled years ago becomes entangled in the disappearance of two teenage girls in this stunning literary crime thriller.
Reid left the small town of Manson a decade ago, promising his former Chief of Police boss he'd never return. He made a new life in the city, became a PI and turned his back on his old life for good.
Now an insurance firm has offered him good money to look into a suspicious car crash, and he finds himself back in the place he grew up - home to his complicated family history, a scarring relationship breakdown and a very public career-ending incident.
As Reid's investigation unfolds, nothing is as it seems: rumours are swirling about the well-liked young woman who was driving the car which killed her professor husband, while a second local student has just disappeared. As Reid veers off course from the job he has been paid to do, will he find himself in the dangerous position of taking on the town again?
A private investigator returning to the hometown he fled years ago becomes entangled in the disappearance of two teenage girls in this stunning literary crime thriller.
Reid left the small town of Manson a decade ago, promising his former Chief of Police boss he'd never return. He made a new life in the city, became a PI and turned his back on his old life for good.
Now an insurance firm has offered him good money to look into a suspicious car crash, and he finds himself back in the place he grew up - home to his complicated family history, a scarring relationship breakdown and a very public career-ending incident.
As Reid's investigation unfolds, nothing is as it seems: rumours are swirling about the well-liked young woman who was driving the car which killed her professor husband, while a second local student has just disappeared. As Reid veers off course from the job he has been paid to do, will he find himself in the dangerous position of taking on the town again?
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2022
92 people are currently reading
2889 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Pomare
12 books1,382 followersJ. P. Pomare is a New Zealand author who lives in Melbourne, Australia.
He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed and best-selling novels including Seventeen Years Later, Tell Me Lies, and The Wrong Woman.
His novel In The Clearing was adapted for the screen as an eight part miniseries by Disney (The Clearing) and The Last Guests (Watching You) has been adapted as a series by Stan.
He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed and best-selling novels including Seventeen Years Later, Tell Me Lies, and The Wrong Woman.
His novel In The Clearing was adapted for the screen as an eight part miniseries by Disney (The Clearing) and The Last Guests (Watching You) has been adapted as a series by Stan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
June 28, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Reid is a PI who is offered a large bonus by an insurance company to investigate a suspicious car crash that left the husband Oliver dead and the wife Ashana in a coma. To say that Reid is reluctant to return to Manson, the town of his birth is an understatement. He carries unhappy memories and much baggage to say nothing of his promise to never return. However, the money is too good to turn down and he decides to take the plunge and as his investigation broadens and deepens he realises it is not just risky but downright dangerous. Nothing is as it seems, there are multiple question marks against the dead husband and in addition there are two missing girls. Are they separate “unfortunate“ events or are they connected?
I really enjoy the way the author tells the story via the dual narratives of Reid and the wife Ashana. It allows the truth to reveal itself a snippet at a time, it flows well between the two with the past making sense of the present. Both of them have good back stories but especially so of Reid. His is extremely powerful with reveals which keep on surprising you.
The characterisation is very good with all the central characters being well portrayed especially Reid who is very likeable despite his many setbacks. You root for him especially when his reception in Manson is less than friendly.
The setting really adds something extra to the plot, the twin towns of Manson and Ethelton provide an excellent and atmospheric backdrop and are very well described. The small town, everyone knows everyone gives problems and issues from the start.
It’s very hard to put down as you become desperate to know the truth, the pace is fast and it rarely lets up. There are some good cliffhangers and plot twists, some you forsee and some you definitely don’t and what it amounts to is compelling and riveting experience right up to the very good and exciting end.
Overall, this is a gripping, tense and suspenseful novel from an author who is a must read for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for that much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Reid is a PI who is offered a large bonus by an insurance company to investigate a suspicious car crash that left the husband Oliver dead and the wife Ashana in a coma. To say that Reid is reluctant to return to Manson, the town of his birth is an understatement. He carries unhappy memories and much baggage to say nothing of his promise to never return. However, the money is too good to turn down and he decides to take the plunge and as his investigation broadens and deepens he realises it is not just risky but downright dangerous. Nothing is as it seems, there are multiple question marks against the dead husband and in addition there are two missing girls. Are they separate “unfortunate“ events or are they connected?
I really enjoy the way the author tells the story via the dual narratives of Reid and the wife Ashana. It allows the truth to reveal itself a snippet at a time, it flows well between the two with the past making sense of the present. Both of them have good back stories but especially so of Reid. His is extremely powerful with reveals which keep on surprising you.
The characterisation is very good with all the central characters being well portrayed especially Reid who is very likeable despite his many setbacks. You root for him especially when his reception in Manson is less than friendly.
The setting really adds something extra to the plot, the twin towns of Manson and Ethelton provide an excellent and atmospheric backdrop and are very well described. The small town, everyone knows everyone gives problems and issues from the start.
It’s very hard to put down as you become desperate to know the truth, the pace is fast and it rarely lets up. There are some good cliffhangers and plot twists, some you forsee and some you definitely don’t and what it amounts to is compelling and riveting experience right up to the very good and exciting end.
Overall, this is a gripping, tense and suspenseful novel from an author who is a must read for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for that much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 7, 2022
The Wrong Woman is another gripping crime thriller from the pen of NZ author J.P. Pomare.
The deliciously dark and twisty narrative alternates between the present perspective of private investigator Vince Reid, reluctantly returning to his hometown to investigate a suspicious car accident, and that of crash survivor, Eshana Stiles, over the weeks and months leading up to the fateful night.
Upon his arrival in the "twin towns" of struggling Manson and more upper-class Ethelton, Reid discovers that the death of Sandown College academic Oliver Stiles and the serious injury of his wife in a car accident are not the only tragedy to face the towns. A local teenager has gone missing several days ago - and not just any girl, but the seventeen-year-old daughter of Reid's former boss, Chief of Police Stubbs. Maddison's disappearance follows upon that of another local girl, Kiara King, some months earlier.
As Reid digs into the circumstances of Oliver and Eshana Stiles's accident, more than once crossing the line between acceptable and illegal activity, he comes across alarming connections between the deceased college professor and missing girl Kiara. And it becomes clear that Reid is facing more than just the normal small-town animosity surrounding an insurance investigation - someone wants him off the case permanently. Can Reid uncover what really happened that dark and wet Wednesday night? Was Oliver Stiles's death the tragic accident it appears, and is it possible that he had something to do with the disappearances of Kiara and Maddison?
With short chapters and a back-and-forth split narrative, The Wrong Woman is a compulsively readable crime-thriller. Reid is an engaging hero, a man with a chequered past as a police officer, but a tenacious thirst for truth and justice, in spite of the barriers that seem to be constantly being placed in his way. Eshana Stiles, meanwhile, is a beguiling character - have her suspicions about her husband's fidelity led her to do something dreadful, or is she simply an innocent victim? The reader's sympathies are pulled backwards and forwards as her side of the narrative unfolds.
I'd thoroughly recommend The Wrong Woman to any reader who enjoys dark and twisty thrillers, especially those that employ the trope of small-town insularity and prejudice. Readers who love Jane Harper, Garry Disher or Chris Whitaker's work will gobble this up!
My thanks to the author, J.P. Pomare, publisher Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley (UK) for the opportunity to read and review this title.
The deliciously dark and twisty narrative alternates between the present perspective of private investigator Vince Reid, reluctantly returning to his hometown to investigate a suspicious car accident, and that of crash survivor, Eshana Stiles, over the weeks and months leading up to the fateful night.
Upon his arrival in the "twin towns" of struggling Manson and more upper-class Ethelton, Reid discovers that the death of Sandown College academic Oliver Stiles and the serious injury of his wife in a car accident are not the only tragedy to face the towns. A local teenager has gone missing several days ago - and not just any girl, but the seventeen-year-old daughter of Reid's former boss, Chief of Police Stubbs. Maddison's disappearance follows upon that of another local girl, Kiara King, some months earlier.
As Reid digs into the circumstances of Oliver and Eshana Stiles's accident, more than once crossing the line between acceptable and illegal activity, he comes across alarming connections between the deceased college professor and missing girl Kiara. And it becomes clear that Reid is facing more than just the normal small-town animosity surrounding an insurance investigation - someone wants him off the case permanently. Can Reid uncover what really happened that dark and wet Wednesday night? Was Oliver Stiles's death the tragic accident it appears, and is it possible that he had something to do with the disappearances of Kiara and Maddison?
With short chapters and a back-and-forth split narrative, The Wrong Woman is a compulsively readable crime-thriller. Reid is an engaging hero, a man with a chequered past as a police officer, but a tenacious thirst for truth and justice, in spite of the barriers that seem to be constantly being placed in his way. Eshana Stiles, meanwhile, is a beguiling character - have her suspicions about her husband's fidelity led her to do something dreadful, or is she simply an innocent victim? The reader's sympathies are pulled backwards and forwards as her side of the narrative unfolds.
I'd thoroughly recommend The Wrong Woman to any reader who enjoys dark and twisty thrillers, especially those that employ the trope of small-town insularity and prejudice. Readers who love Jane Harper, Garry Disher or Chris Whitaker's work will gobble this up!
My thanks to the author, J.P. Pomare, publisher Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley (UK) for the opportunity to read and review this title.
July 29, 2022
Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review.
I really enjoyed this book. It was so addictive. It was my first by this author and it definately wont be my last. Now I know why there is so much praise around his books. He had me hanging on every word from start to finish. I loved how all the characters were integrated with each other. The chapters alternated between Reid (PI) and Eshana (wife who survives the crash). There wasnt just one character I was fixated on , there was something going on with everyone. My favourite plot in a book is missing people or cold cases so I was in heaven.
I really enjoyed this book. It was so addictive. It was my first by this author and it definately wont be my last. Now I know why there is so much praise around his books. He had me hanging on every word from start to finish. I loved how all the characters were integrated with each other. The chapters alternated between Reid (PI) and Eshana (wife who survives the crash). There wasnt just one character I was fixated on , there was something going on with everyone. My favourite plot in a book is missing people or cold cases so I was in heaven.
July 30, 2022
JP Pomare has another hit on his hands with The Wrong Woman. As with all of this authors previous books, I found that I couldn’t put it down. I really needed to know what information we were going to find out next. I read this in less than 24 hours and was rewarded with a stellar read. It blows my mind how these authors do it time and time again.
A private investigator who was a former cop. A car crash that killed the passenger and left the driver in a coma. 2 missing girls from the same twin towns. Rumours aplenty about the dead passenger and his behaviour. A mega insurance policy. The PI with a dark past of his own. These are just some of the plot lines happening in this book. There is always something going on.. but how are the connected? Or are they even connected? Well, you will need to read it to find out.
Another fantastic book from JP Pomare, who has now completely cemented himself as a go to author for me. As soon as I got this book I had to read it. A big thank you to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy to read.
The Wrong Woman is published in Australia on July 27th
A private investigator who was a former cop. A car crash that killed the passenger and left the driver in a coma. 2 missing girls from the same twin towns. Rumours aplenty about the dead passenger and his behaviour. A mega insurance policy. The PI with a dark past of his own. These are just some of the plot lines happening in this book. There is always something going on.. but how are the connected? Or are they even connected? Well, you will need to read it to find out.
Another fantastic book from JP Pomare, who has now completely cemented himself as a go to author for me. As soon as I got this book I had to read it. A big thank you to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy to read.
The Wrong Woman is published in Australia on July 27th
March 5, 2023
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
The Wrong Woman by J. P. Pomare. (2022).
Reid left his small town home a decade ago, promising his former Chief of Police boss he'd never return. Now he is a PI and an insurance firm has offered him good money to look into a suspicious car crash; back in his home town with his complicated family history, a scarring relationship breakdown and a career-ending incident. As his investigation unfolds, nothing is as it seems: rumours are about the well-liked young woman who crashed the car and killed her professor husband, and their possible connection to a local missing student...
This was a really enjoyable mystery thriller story. The storyline was engaging and made for almost addictive reading as Reid tries to work out the ins and outs of this seemingly straightforward case that turns out to be quite complicated. Making his work even more complex is that Reid has his own complicated history in the area with the police force basically hating him. The book alternates between Reid's perspective and Eshana, the driver of the car. Eshana's chapters cover the history of her relationship with her husband who is now dead and the events leading to the crash. A clever and well-written storyline, I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall: I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel which you pick up and the hours just disappear while you are reading.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
The Wrong Woman by J. P. Pomare. (2022).
Reid left his small town home a decade ago, promising his former Chief of Police boss he'd never return. Now he is a PI and an insurance firm has offered him good money to look into a suspicious car crash; back in his home town with his complicated family history, a scarring relationship breakdown and a career-ending incident. As his investigation unfolds, nothing is as it seems: rumours are about the well-liked young woman who crashed the car and killed her professor husband, and their possible connection to a local missing student...
This was a really enjoyable mystery thriller story. The storyline was engaging and made for almost addictive reading as Reid tries to work out the ins and outs of this seemingly straightforward case that turns out to be quite complicated. Making his work even more complex is that Reid has his own complicated history in the area with the police force basically hating him. The book alternates between Reid's perspective and Eshana, the driver of the car. Eshana's chapters cover the history of her relationship with her husband who is now dead and the events leading to the crash. A clever and well-written storyline, I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall: I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel which you pick up and the hours just disappear while you are reading.
November 13, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, the first I have read from this author but it won’t be the last, it is has many twists and told from two points of view the past and now and had me guessing till the end and it was not what I expected, a good book to curl up with especially if you love a good crime, thriller, mystery.
Vince Reid is now a PI he left the police department in the town he had grown up in under dark circumstances ten years ago and was told by his boss never to return but when he is asked to investigate a car accident in his home town the money offered is too good to pass up.
The car accident involves a husband Oliver Styles and wife Eshana, who was driving, Oliver ends up dead and Eshana in a coma, how did this happen on a pretty safe stretch of road was it an accident or a deliberate act? The more Reid investigates the more he uncovers, add to that the disappearance of two local young girls in the last six months and Reid is convinced there is a link.
This investigation digs deep and a lot from the past is coming out and Reid finds himself in grave danger but he is who he is and he must get the truth out no matter what. This one had me turning the pages it is very well written with fabulous characters some with secrets they do not want to come out, I do highly recommend this one, there is lots of tension and suspense in this one.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review
Vince Reid is now a PI he left the police department in the town he had grown up in under dark circumstances ten years ago and was told by his boss never to return but when he is asked to investigate a car accident in his home town the money offered is too good to pass up.
The car accident involves a husband Oliver Styles and wife Eshana, who was driving, Oliver ends up dead and Eshana in a coma, how did this happen on a pretty safe stretch of road was it an accident or a deliberate act? The more Reid investigates the more he uncovers, add to that the disappearance of two local young girls in the last six months and Reid is convinced there is a link.
This investigation digs deep and a lot from the past is coming out and Reid finds himself in grave danger but he is who he is and he must get the truth out no matter what. This one had me turning the pages it is very well written with fabulous characters some with secrets they do not want to come out, I do highly recommend this one, there is lots of tension and suspense in this one.
My thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review
September 29, 2023
4 Stars
Well written suspense about Reed who returns to his hometown where he was never wanted.
The story is two povs, past and present.
Reed was a private detective who eventually became an insurance agent to help solve a crime.
The story delves into Reeds past and why he is no longer welcome in his town.
Ashanas pov starts in the past leading up to events involving her husband Oliver who’s a teacher. She starts to question her husband’s whereabouts.
Reed is back in town to investigate an insurance claim which quickly turns into an investigation.
Very fast paced for both characters.
I enjoyed trying to figure out this story.
This a ‘everything is solved on the last paragraph’ book.
Well written suspense about Reed who returns to his hometown where he was never wanted.
The story is two povs, past and present.
Reed was a private detective who eventually became an insurance agent to help solve a crime.
The story delves into Reeds past and why he is no longer welcome in his town.
Ashanas pov starts in the past leading up to events involving her husband Oliver who’s a teacher. She starts to question her husband’s whereabouts.
Reed is back in town to investigate an insurance claim which quickly turns into an investigation.
Very fast paced for both characters.
I enjoyed trying to figure out this story.
This a ‘everything is solved on the last paragraph’ book.
July 30, 2022
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
J.P. Pomare has delivered an engaging and cleverly written slow burn procedural crime mystery with unexpected twists. The Wrong Woman is a uniquely different style to his previous book and is set in the US, as with his previous work it was addictive!
The Story is set in the twin towns of Ethelton and Manson and is narrated by both Reid and Esthana.
Vince Reid is in his late thirties and we find him reluctantly returning to his hometown to investigate a fatal car accident for an insurance company who is paying a generous fee. The husband Oliver is dead and his wife Eshana is in an induced coma.
During the investigation Reid also becomes involved in the disappearance of two teenage girls, he’s determined to find the truth in their disappearance no matter what even with his dark past catching up with him.
Well written with an unpredictable ending.
Publication Date 27 July 2022
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for an early copy of the book.
J.P. Pomare has delivered an engaging and cleverly written slow burn procedural crime mystery with unexpected twists. The Wrong Woman is a uniquely different style to his previous book and is set in the US, as with his previous work it was addictive!
The Story is set in the twin towns of Ethelton and Manson and is narrated by both Reid and Esthana.
Vince Reid is in his late thirties and we find him reluctantly returning to his hometown to investigate a fatal car accident for an insurance company who is paying a generous fee. The husband Oliver is dead and his wife Eshana is in an induced coma.
During the investigation Reid also becomes involved in the disappearance of two teenage girls, he’s determined to find the truth in their disappearance no matter what even with his dark past catching up with him.
Well written with an unpredictable ending.
Publication Date 27 July 2022
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for an early copy of the book.
August 1, 2023
After finishing this book I realized it was just over 300 pages long. It felt like a much longer book, because the characters are great, the story is captivating and it’s full of unexpected large and small things happening.
Vince Reid returns to his old home town. There are many books that start out as this, but this time it immediately veers in an interesting direction. Vince is nearing his fifties now, has not long ago broken up with his boyfriend and frankly, he himself is not very keen to go back to Manson and Ethelton, the twin towns that have so much in common – and so many things not. But, an insurance company he worked for before offers good money to have a look what happened when Eshana and Oliver Stiles went off the road in their car, she being the survivor.
Soon, Reid finds out this crash could have had something to do with the disappearance of two young girls but as he digs deeper, he gets warnings not to dig too deep – but also encouraging messages that he is on the right track, a track that leads to a tale of betrayal, revenge and – as the saying goes: follow the money.
I loved the concise writing style; without using too many words the author paints the characters and their actions and this makes you want to read on. I must admit that I’ve never heard of this author before, but I will now certainly look out for more of his work.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this review copy.
Vince Reid returns to his old home town. There are many books that start out as this, but this time it immediately veers in an interesting direction. Vince is nearing his fifties now, has not long ago broken up with his boyfriend and frankly, he himself is not very keen to go back to Manson and Ethelton, the twin towns that have so much in common – and so many things not. But, an insurance company he worked for before offers good money to have a look what happened when Eshana and Oliver Stiles went off the road in their car, she being the survivor.
Soon, Reid finds out this crash could have had something to do with the disappearance of two young girls but as he digs deeper, he gets warnings not to dig too deep – but also encouraging messages that he is on the right track, a track that leads to a tale of betrayal, revenge and – as the saying goes: follow the money.
I loved the concise writing style; without using too many words the author paints the characters and their actions and this makes you want to read on. I must admit that I’ve never heard of this author before, but I will now certainly look out for more of his work.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this review copy.
August 10, 2022
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
Melbourne based author J.P. Pomare has seen four of his books widely published. Pomare returns with another thrill piece for his fans old and new. The Wrong Woman is a complicated and interlaced crime thriller that looks at the strange disappearance of two teenage girls. Wild, unpredictable, puzzling and sage, The Wrong Woman kept me guessing until the final hour!
Former resident of the small town of Manson, Reid is now a city-based PI. Reid wants to put his old life in Manson behind him, but his past catches up with him once more when he is presented with a case that will draw in some big bucks. An insurance firm asks Reid to investigate a suspect car crash, in return for a healthy payment. But Reid is at odds, he made a vow never to come back to Manson. When Reid returns home he is remined of his tough upbringing, his difficult family history, a career ending situation and the relationships he left behind. But as Reid works through this complex car crash incident nothing is as it seems – there are looming questions, theories and plenty of suspicion around the couple involved. Will Reid be able to get to the bottom of this perplexing case?
J.P. Pomare is one of our country’s rising stars in the literary thriller field. With four very strong novels in this genre under his belt, Pomare is back with another magnificent thriller. The Wrong Woman is a story that took me in all sorts of different corners and places. It was unpredictable, twisted, volatile and consuming.
I have enjoyed each and every J.P. Pomare book I have read to date. I was very keen to delve into The Wrong Woman as soon as it arrived on my doorstep. The recent wet weather weekend here in Perth granted me plenty of time to read this one. From the moment I read the first paragraph of the main character Reid’s testimony I was hooked. Reid’s addictive narration is alternated with Eshana’s viewpoint. Eshana is another highly intriguing narrator, who shares the spotlight with Reid, our intrepid PI. Between the two of them, Pomare serves up a truly engrossing slow burn style thriller. The pace forced me to restrict my reading speed level a notch, but I was more than happy to do this as it allowed me to fully appreciate all this superb book had to offer. I was duped, fooled and placed in a false sense of security as I thought I had this one completely figured out. However, Pomare definitely bamboozled me with his latest release. Pomare’s astute approach and directive force absorbs the reader in a thick air of narrative tension. With full bodied characters, a claustrophobic small-town atmosphere and direct style writing, The Wrong Woman definitely seduced this reader!
The Wrong Woman is one book that you will need to pay strong attention to from the opening sentence, right through until to the final key word. I highly recommend J.P. Pomare’s latest.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
4.5 stars
Melbourne based author J.P. Pomare has seen four of his books widely published. Pomare returns with another thrill piece for his fans old and new. The Wrong Woman is a complicated and interlaced crime thriller that looks at the strange disappearance of two teenage girls. Wild, unpredictable, puzzling and sage, The Wrong Woman kept me guessing until the final hour!
Former resident of the small town of Manson, Reid is now a city-based PI. Reid wants to put his old life in Manson behind him, but his past catches up with him once more when he is presented with a case that will draw in some big bucks. An insurance firm asks Reid to investigate a suspect car crash, in return for a healthy payment. But Reid is at odds, he made a vow never to come back to Manson. When Reid returns home he is remined of his tough upbringing, his difficult family history, a career ending situation and the relationships he left behind. But as Reid works through this complex car crash incident nothing is as it seems – there are looming questions, theories and plenty of suspicion around the couple involved. Will Reid be able to get to the bottom of this perplexing case?
J.P. Pomare is one of our country’s rising stars in the literary thriller field. With four very strong novels in this genre under his belt, Pomare is back with another magnificent thriller. The Wrong Woman is a story that took me in all sorts of different corners and places. It was unpredictable, twisted, volatile and consuming.
I have enjoyed each and every J.P. Pomare book I have read to date. I was very keen to delve into The Wrong Woman as soon as it arrived on my doorstep. The recent wet weather weekend here in Perth granted me plenty of time to read this one. From the moment I read the first paragraph of the main character Reid’s testimony I was hooked. Reid’s addictive narration is alternated with Eshana’s viewpoint. Eshana is another highly intriguing narrator, who shares the spotlight with Reid, our intrepid PI. Between the two of them, Pomare serves up a truly engrossing slow burn style thriller. The pace forced me to restrict my reading speed level a notch, but I was more than happy to do this as it allowed me to fully appreciate all this superb book had to offer. I was duped, fooled and placed in a false sense of security as I thought I had this one completely figured out. However, Pomare definitely bamboozled me with his latest release. Pomare’s astute approach and directive force absorbs the reader in a thick air of narrative tension. With full bodied characters, a claustrophobic small-town atmosphere and direct style writing, The Wrong Woman definitely seduced this reader!
The Wrong Woman is one book that you will need to pay strong attention to from the opening sentence, right through until to the final key word. I highly recommend J.P. Pomare’s latest.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
October 23, 2023
The Wrong Woman is another darkly mysterious thriller by J.P. Pomare, a private investigator case that hides more than just a tragic road accident. It’s a story steeped in intrigue and infidelity with a hint of revenge thrown in and it continued to compel me to keep reading as it regularly chucked out juicy tidbits of information that, on their own, meant very little but as a growing whole, meant heaps.
This is a story that starts with a car accident in the twin towns of Manson and Ethelton. Eshana Stiles was driving herself and her husband Oliver home from a restaurant one night when it appears she lost control of the car and crashed. The accident killed her husband and left her alive but in a coma.
The story is told from the first person of two viewpoints and time periods. Reid’s first person account is a present day narrative of his investigation into the accident as he attempts to learn how it might have happened. Eshana’s first person account starts years before the accident when she meets her future husband and then runs us through their life together right up until the night of the accident.
Vince Reid is a PI and is in town to investigate the accident on behalf of the insurance company. He used to work as a Manson PD police officer until he left the job following a controversial incident that’s only hinted at early on in the book. It was such a traumatic event that Reid was not only forced out of his job, he was forced out of the town. He’s only back because the job promises to pay handsomely but he knows when he crosses paths with the local cops, things won’t go well.
This is a high quality thriller that proves to be unpredictable in that deliciously unsettling way where you think you know the direction it’s heading when, suddenly, the rug is pulled out from under you. Reid’s investigation appears to be making progress, he’s uncovering information missed by the original police investigation, finding evidence of lies, deceit and infidelity. But not necessarily evidence that relates to the car crash.
Certainly not enough to satisfy an insurance company looking to withhold payment. So why then, suddenly, is the insurance company satisfied and happy to cease the investigation. It’s from here that the intrigue and surprises start to make themselves known and we suddenly become aware that there’s more to this investigation than first met the eye.
The use of two separate first person accounts was an interesting approach and was able to provide a unique perspective on two sides of the investigation. While Reid was coming to his own conclusions after the event, we were becoming more and more aware of what was going on before. It heightened the feeling of tension that grew as we reached the moment where both Reid and Eshana met. By this point it felt as though I knew exactly what made both of them tick and this only made the stakes even greater.
I really enjoyed the story, particularly by the sudden change in direction we took halfway through. It was another reminder that I shouldn’t take everything presented to me at face value. It’s an engrossing mystery that portrays a difficult marriage and the way in which words may be used to manipulate the mind. It's also a reminder that revenge comes from the most unlikely of quarters.
This is a story that starts with a car accident in the twin towns of Manson and Ethelton. Eshana Stiles was driving herself and her husband Oliver home from a restaurant one night when it appears she lost control of the car and crashed. The accident killed her husband and left her alive but in a coma.
The story is told from the first person of two viewpoints and time periods. Reid’s first person account is a present day narrative of his investigation into the accident as he attempts to learn how it might have happened. Eshana’s first person account starts years before the accident when she meets her future husband and then runs us through their life together right up until the night of the accident.
Vince Reid is a PI and is in town to investigate the accident on behalf of the insurance company. He used to work as a Manson PD police officer until he left the job following a controversial incident that’s only hinted at early on in the book. It was such a traumatic event that Reid was not only forced out of his job, he was forced out of the town. He’s only back because the job promises to pay handsomely but he knows when he crosses paths with the local cops, things won’t go well.
This is a high quality thriller that proves to be unpredictable in that deliciously unsettling way where you think you know the direction it’s heading when, suddenly, the rug is pulled out from under you. Reid’s investigation appears to be making progress, he’s uncovering information missed by the original police investigation, finding evidence of lies, deceit and infidelity. But not necessarily evidence that relates to the car crash.
Certainly not enough to satisfy an insurance company looking to withhold payment. So why then, suddenly, is the insurance company satisfied and happy to cease the investigation. It’s from here that the intrigue and surprises start to make themselves known and we suddenly become aware that there’s more to this investigation than first met the eye.
The use of two separate first person accounts was an interesting approach and was able to provide a unique perspective on two sides of the investigation. While Reid was coming to his own conclusions after the event, we were becoming more and more aware of what was going on before. It heightened the feeling of tension that grew as we reached the moment where both Reid and Eshana met. By this point it felt as though I knew exactly what made both of them tick and this only made the stakes even greater.
I really enjoyed the story, particularly by the sudden change in direction we took halfway through. It was another reminder that I shouldn’t take everything presented to me at face value. It’s an engrossing mystery that portrays a difficult marriage and the way in which words may be used to manipulate the mind. It's also a reminder that revenge comes from the most unlikely of quarters.
October 6, 2022
I love a good crime novel where I’m not entirely sure where it’s going, and Pomare never disappoints me. I missed the South Pacific flavour a little bit in this one, but it didn’t stop me from inhaling it in an afternoon. Lucky is that he’s such a prolific writer.
June 13, 2022
J.P. Pomare is a clever writer, with a keen eye for character and atmosphere that makes this and previous novels an absolute pleasure to read.
The Wrong Woman has an intriguing main protagonist and a compelling central mystery that unfolds on the page through two points of view, is hugely addictive and absolutely begs to be read in one sitting which is what I did.
A homecoming and a reckoning, a genuine sense of unpredictability and a need to know will keep you turning those pages as you head towards the excellent finale. Overall a most terrific read again from this author. Loved it.
The Wrong Woman has an intriguing main protagonist and a compelling central mystery that unfolds on the page through two points of view, is hugely addictive and absolutely begs to be read in one sitting which is what I did.
A homecoming and a reckoning, a genuine sense of unpredictability and a need to know will keep you turning those pages as you head towards the excellent finale. Overall a most terrific read again from this author. Loved it.
July 13, 2022
Once again J P Pomare has delivered a page turning read. He by no means follows a repetitive style, with each book being uniquely different.
Reid is a private investigator and his latest case sees him return to his home town to investigate a car crash that killed Eshana Stiles husband and put her in a coma. The insurance company wants Reid to see if there was any evidence of foul play before they pay up, but Reid starts to see a link between 2 missing girls and Oli Stiles, the deceased husband. Soon his investigation veers off course and he finds himself at odds with the police and the townsfolk who wanted him gone all those years ago. Why was Reid sent packing from the police force back then and why don’t they want him back.
Another excellent read.
#TheWrongWoman. #NetGalley
Reid is a private investigator and his latest case sees him return to his home town to investigate a car crash that killed Eshana Stiles husband and put her in a coma. The insurance company wants Reid to see if there was any evidence of foul play before they pay up, but Reid starts to see a link between 2 missing girls and Oli Stiles, the deceased husband. Soon his investigation veers off course and he finds himself at odds with the police and the townsfolk who wanted him gone all those years ago. Why was Reid sent packing from the police force back then and why don’t they want him back.
Another excellent read.
#TheWrongWoman. #NetGalley
August 1, 2022
I enjoyed the progression of the story and it’s pacing and structure. Super short chapters which made it easy to read. There were great twists and turns but I felt like I never got to know any of the characters which stopped me from connecting deeper to the story. I just didn’t really care who did what because I was missing that personal connection.
October 7, 2022
After enjoying Pomare’s last couple of books I couldn’t wait for his new offering. But…
Pomare has foregone both Australia and New Zealand and chosen America as the setting for The Wrong Woman. I suppose he did this to both crack into the American market as well as include elements into the plot that wouldn't have completely worked in Australia (or NZ). Unfortunately though, I just feel like setting the book in the US made The Wrong Woman very generic and bland. (I had a very similar feeling with Dervla McTiernan's The Murder Rule.)
The book is written from the POV of two narrators, Reid and Eshana. I liked Reid, an ex cop turned private detective hired by an insurance company to investigate a car accident which he comes to believe is linked to two missing girls. Eshana, the survivor of the accident, is less likeable and way more of a cookie cutter character. I’m sure I could point out 4 or 5 books I’ve read in the last couple of years with female characters exactly the same as Eshana and her predictable storyline.
Apart from the blandness of the characters and setting there was also, disappointingly, minimal tension and obvious twists.
I wouldn’t call The Wrong Woman a bad book but I just can’t get past the generic been-done-before-a-million times feeling I had whilst reading. 3 ½ out of 5
Pomare has foregone both Australia and New Zealand and chosen America as the setting for The Wrong Woman. I suppose he did this to both crack into the American market as well as include elements into the plot that wouldn't have completely worked in Australia (or NZ). Unfortunately though, I just feel like setting the book in the US made The Wrong Woman very generic and bland. (I had a very similar feeling with Dervla McTiernan's The Murder Rule.)
The book is written from the POV of two narrators, Reid and Eshana. I liked Reid, an ex cop turned private detective hired by an insurance company to investigate a car accident which he comes to believe is linked to two missing girls. Eshana, the survivor of the accident, is less likeable and way more of a cookie cutter character. I’m sure I could point out 4 or 5 books I’ve read in the last couple of years with female characters exactly the same as Eshana and her predictable storyline.
Apart from the blandness of the characters and setting there was also, disappointingly, minimal tension and obvious twists.
I wouldn’t call The Wrong Woman a bad book but I just can’t get past the generic been-done-before-a-million times feeling I had whilst reading. 3 ½ out of 5
August 18, 2022
4.5 - all the bits are here - alternating chapters style format? Tick (between Reid, former cop and now PI doing an insurance investigation into a fatal crash, and Eshana, driver of the crash which killed her husband). Small town you thought you’d escaped from, but have to come back to? Tick. Long buried town secrets? Tick. Small town mindset? Tick.
J P Pomare has a knack of setting a book like individual bits of wool, that eventually wind up as a fascinating scarf as the reader works their way through. Things you thought you were following weren’t true, and then something comes out of left field. This is a worthy follow up to his other books, all of which I’ve read and rated highly, and as you can see by the time taken to read it, I devoured it (although disclaimer: for 3 hours of that I was stuck at the hairdresser).
J P Pomare has a knack of setting a book like individual bits of wool, that eventually wind up as a fascinating scarf as the reader works their way through. Things you thought you were following weren’t true, and then something comes out of left field. This is a worthy follow up to his other books, all of which I’ve read and rated highly, and as you can see by the time taken to read it, I devoured it (although disclaimer: for 3 hours of that I was stuck at the hairdresser).
July 11, 2022
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
After four books JP serves his next helping with another psychological thriller slash crime fiction story.
PI Vince Reid returns to his hometown after fleeing decades before.
An insurance firm has thrown a lot of money at him to look into a mysterious car crash.
He then gets entangled in his own past history and the disappearance of two teenage girls.
The further he digs, the more scandal, rumours and information he discovers.
Soon he begins to regret his decision to take on this job and danger is slowly creeping up and about to pounce.
A slow burn thrill ride that will grip, twist and keep you guessing from the opening paragraph to the very last sentence.
Lots of atmosphere, tension and filled with interesting vibes and clever in its delivery.
While I’m a fan of JP’s novels, this one did not excite me as much as his previous books.
With suspicion thrown here and there, numerous character perspectives, vivid descriptions, an unfolding plot, it’s all present to impress and excite many readers.
Grab a copy on release day and decide for yourself.
After four books JP serves his next helping with another psychological thriller slash crime fiction story.
PI Vince Reid returns to his hometown after fleeing decades before.
An insurance firm has thrown a lot of money at him to look into a mysterious car crash.
He then gets entangled in his own past history and the disappearance of two teenage girls.
The further he digs, the more scandal, rumours and information he discovers.
Soon he begins to regret his decision to take on this job and danger is slowly creeping up and about to pounce.
A slow burn thrill ride that will grip, twist and keep you guessing from the opening paragraph to the very last sentence.
Lots of atmosphere, tension and filled with interesting vibes and clever in its delivery.
While I’m a fan of JP’s novels, this one did not excite me as much as his previous books.
With suspicion thrown here and there, numerous character perspectives, vivid descriptions, an unfolding plot, it’s all present to impress and excite many readers.
Grab a copy on release day and decide for yourself.
August 5, 2022
So good! So, so good!
This is one of those books that is, despite the many misses I’ve been having, responsible for yours truly returning to the psychological thriller genre again and again. Because once in a while you come across a gem and this is definitely one of them.
‘The Wrong Woman‘ is told by way of chapters set in the past and the present. In the present, Vince Reid returns to his hometown of Manson, a place he left behind a decade ago for reasons that will be explained as the story continues. Reid is now a private investigator and he’s been sent to Manson to investigate a car crash for an insurance company. But when Reid arrives in Manson, he catches word of a missing girl and she isn’t the first one.
The chapters set in the past deal with the couple involved in the car crash Reid was sent to investigate. Oliver and Eshana were on their way home after dinner at a restaurant, when the car Eshana was driving hit a pole. Oliver was instantly killed, his wife is in a coma. They had only been married a few years but rumours have been swirling around Oliver for ages. By way of Eshana’s point-of-view, we get a glimpse into their marriage and the events that lead up to the night of the accident. Did Eshana really know her husband? Was the car crash an accident? Will the things that Reid uncovers put him in danger?
Such a clever plot, such incredible writing and then there’s that always atmospheric small town vibe that I love so much. On top of that, Reid, our main protagonist is a fascinating character. There’s quite a bit to discover about him and his previous life in Manson. Questions that need to be answered as to why he left and was asked never to return. This complicates his investigation as he tries to get around the town unnoticed but nothing stays a secret long in a small community like Manson. Or does it?
There’s also plenty to learn about Oliver and Eshana. Can Oliver be trusted? Is Eshana paranoid? Why is it so hard for her to believe her husband? Did she mean to kill herself? Did she mean to kill her husband? Nothing is what it seems in this town and I was never entirely sure of any of the theories that popped up in my head. The author kept me guessing until the end. It’s one of the things that made ‘The Wrong Woman‘ extremely addictive, you just have to know how it all fits together, and it was near impossible to put this book down until all the threads came together and I finally realised what had been going on. Quickly followed by a massively satisfied sigh and a “wow, that was so good!”.
‘The Wrong Woman‘ is easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year and you’ll definitely be seeing it again in my books-of-the-year list. Pomare is a new-to-me author and one I’ll undoubtedly be keeping an eye on. Recommended!
This is one of those books that is, despite the many misses I’ve been having, responsible for yours truly returning to the psychological thriller genre again and again. Because once in a while you come across a gem and this is definitely one of them.
‘The Wrong Woman‘ is told by way of chapters set in the past and the present. In the present, Vince Reid returns to his hometown of Manson, a place he left behind a decade ago for reasons that will be explained as the story continues. Reid is now a private investigator and he’s been sent to Manson to investigate a car crash for an insurance company. But when Reid arrives in Manson, he catches word of a missing girl and she isn’t the first one.
The chapters set in the past deal with the couple involved in the car crash Reid was sent to investigate. Oliver and Eshana were on their way home after dinner at a restaurant, when the car Eshana was driving hit a pole. Oliver was instantly killed, his wife is in a coma. They had only been married a few years but rumours have been swirling around Oliver for ages. By way of Eshana’s point-of-view, we get a glimpse into their marriage and the events that lead up to the night of the accident. Did Eshana really know her husband? Was the car crash an accident? Will the things that Reid uncovers put him in danger?
Such a clever plot, such incredible writing and then there’s that always atmospheric small town vibe that I love so much. On top of that, Reid, our main protagonist is a fascinating character. There’s quite a bit to discover about him and his previous life in Manson. Questions that need to be answered as to why he left and was asked never to return. This complicates his investigation as he tries to get around the town unnoticed but nothing stays a secret long in a small community like Manson. Or does it?
There’s also plenty to learn about Oliver and Eshana. Can Oliver be trusted? Is Eshana paranoid? Why is it so hard for her to believe her husband? Did she mean to kill herself? Did she mean to kill her husband? Nothing is what it seems in this town and I was never entirely sure of any of the theories that popped up in my head. The author kept me guessing until the end. It’s one of the things that made ‘The Wrong Woman‘ extremely addictive, you just have to know how it all fits together, and it was near impossible to put this book down until all the threads came together and I finally realised what had been going on. Quickly followed by a massively satisfied sigh and a “wow, that was so good!”.
‘The Wrong Woman‘ is easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year and you’ll definitely be seeing it again in my books-of-the-year list. Pomare is a new-to-me author and one I’ll undoubtedly be keeping an eye on. Recommended!
June 2, 2022
I was completely captivated by this book from start to finish. The story unfolded through the eyes of the 2 main characters in whose voice each of the chapters was written. There was movement between the past and the present, but the title of each chapter made it very clear where in time it was located so that the reader could not get lost. I was particularly impressed with the accuracy with which a male author portrayed the perspective of the female character. Her insecurity, lack of trust in her husband, and at times desperation, were all well-captured. As a reader I ached for her at times. The story unfolded in an unpredictable way, there were a number of very believable twists and turns, and this held the reader's interest until the end. I would highly recommend this book, and am now interested to read further books written by JP Pomare.
July 27, 2022
“She tried to run but she wasn’t getting away. She was going to pay for this, they both were.”
Reid fled his small town over a decade ago and swore he’d never return. He made a new life in the city and became a PI. His latest assignment from an insurance firm has offered him money he can’t refuse to look into a suspicious car crash but the catch is he has to go back to the place he grew up.
The towns full of rumours and the investigation doesn’t present anything out of the ordinary on the surface, but the deeper Reid digs the more dirt he finds. When Reid finds himself steering away from the car crash he’s being paid to look into and looking into a second girls disappearance Reid finds himself in a dangerous position.
How far would you go to cover up a web of lies? Like most of Jp novels I devoured this in a sitting, it’s fast paced, full of great charters and a plot that twists and turns right to the last page. There’s so much to unpack in this novel that once it’s over you’re left feeling like you should have savored every page.
I’m a JP fan and have loved his others books, so naturally couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It was perfection and crime thriller lovers, yes you need it.
Reid fled his small town over a decade ago and swore he’d never return. He made a new life in the city and became a PI. His latest assignment from an insurance firm has offered him money he can’t refuse to look into a suspicious car crash but the catch is he has to go back to the place he grew up.
The towns full of rumours and the investigation doesn’t present anything out of the ordinary on the surface, but the deeper Reid digs the more dirt he finds. When Reid finds himself steering away from the car crash he’s being paid to look into and looking into a second girls disappearance Reid finds himself in a dangerous position.
How far would you go to cover up a web of lies? Like most of Jp novels I devoured this in a sitting, it’s fast paced, full of great charters and a plot that twists and turns right to the last page. There’s so much to unpack in this novel that once it’s over you’re left feeling like you should have savored every page.
I’m a JP fan and have loved his others books, so naturally couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It was perfection and crime thriller lovers, yes you need it.
July 10, 2022
“If you don’t shoot, you don’t score.”
Firstly, I want to say I was wanting to venture out of my usual Romance or Fantasy genre and dive into some crime/suspense/ thrillers and boy am I glad I did! When I read the synopsis for this book I was like yep I need that in my life.
I won’t say too much about the actual story/ characters because I don’t want to spoil anything or give anything away.
I was hooked right away. I thought I had it figured out at the beginning and then even half way. (Me over here thinking I’ve found my new career path and I’m going to be a detective 😂). But then say the last 70+ pages threw me and I was literally on the edge of my seat as everything pieced together and played out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and I can’t wait for others to read it! It was such an easy read and I say that with the most respect in the sense that the way it was written just left you wanting more and gliding through the story as it unfolded.
I am definitely going to be read more of J.P. Pomare, his writing is just *👌chefs kiss*
Firstly, I want to say I was wanting to venture out of my usual Romance or Fantasy genre and dive into some crime/suspense/ thrillers and boy am I glad I did! When I read the synopsis for this book I was like yep I need that in my life.
I won’t say too much about the actual story/ characters because I don’t want to spoil anything or give anything away.
I was hooked right away. I thought I had it figured out at the beginning and then even half way. (Me over here thinking I’ve found my new career path and I’m going to be a detective 😂). But then say the last 70+ pages threw me and I was literally on the edge of my seat as everything pieced together and played out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and I can’t wait for others to read it! It was such an easy read and I say that with the most respect in the sense that the way it was written just left you wanting more and gliding through the story as it unfolded.
I am definitely going to be read more of J.P. Pomare, his writing is just *👌chefs kiss*
August 12, 2022
4.5 stars RTC
What a page-turner! @jppomare delivers yet again with his latest crime thriller THE WRONG WOMAN.
The mystery unfolds through dual timelines & point-of-views with plenty of twists and turns in this tense slow-burn thriller.
I enjoyed getting inside the minds of compelling main characters Reid - a private investigator run out of his hometown and Eshana - a young wife involved in a horrific car accident. It was fascinating to see Reid work this case while trying to remain lowkey in a town he vowed never to return to.
I don't want to give much more away... because if you're like me, I prefer to go into thrillers knowing as little as possible.
Add #TheWrongWoman to your TBR if you haven't already, it's a must read!
Thanks @hachetteaus for providing a copy for review
What a page-turner! @jppomare delivers yet again with his latest crime thriller THE WRONG WOMAN.
The mystery unfolds through dual timelines & point-of-views with plenty of twists and turns in this tense slow-burn thriller.
I enjoyed getting inside the minds of compelling main characters Reid - a private investigator run out of his hometown and Eshana - a young wife involved in a horrific car accident. It was fascinating to see Reid work this case while trying to remain lowkey in a town he vowed never to return to.
I don't want to give much more away... because if you're like me, I prefer to go into thrillers knowing as little as possible.
Add #TheWrongWoman to your TBR if you haven't already, it's a must read!
Thanks @hachetteaus for providing a copy for review
August 30, 2022
J.P. Pomare does it again!!!
June 28, 2022
After kick-starting his career with four superb thrillers set in Australasia, award-winning Ngā Puhi storyteller JP Pomare immerses readers in a small-town America with The Wrong Woman.
Reid is a private eye offered good money by an insurance company to investigate a crash which put the driver, Eshana Stiles, in a coma and killed her professor husband. The first problem: it happened in Reid’s hometown of Manson, a place to which he swore to his former boss, the Chief of Police, he’d never return. Then there’s two missing students, and plenty of whispers. The professor had been a person of interest - did someone want him dead? Reid has to dig for the truth while trying to lay low – there are many people he doesn’t want to run into. Scars better left unscratched.
Pomare ratchets the tension while deftly shuffling past-present timelines and the viewpoints of Reid and Eshana. Like a cardsharp whose sleight of hand is far too skilled for us to catch, Pomare performs literary magic. The The Wrong Woman is infused with great atmosphere and characterisation, plus freshness and unpredictability that continues to put Pomare on the top shelf of psychological thrillers.
Reid is a private eye offered good money by an insurance company to investigate a crash which put the driver, Eshana Stiles, in a coma and killed her professor husband. The first problem: it happened in Reid’s hometown of Manson, a place to which he swore to his former boss, the Chief of Police, he’d never return. Then there’s two missing students, and plenty of whispers. The professor had been a person of interest - did someone want him dead? Reid has to dig for the truth while trying to lay low – there are many people he doesn’t want to run into. Scars better left unscratched.
Pomare ratchets the tension while deftly shuffling past-present timelines and the viewpoints of Reid and Eshana. Like a cardsharp whose sleight of hand is far too skilled for us to catch, Pomare performs literary magic. The The Wrong Woman is infused with great atmosphere and characterisation, plus freshness and unpredictability that continues to put Pomare on the top shelf of psychological thrillers.
June 11, 2022
While I was reading this I kept focusing back onto the title, The Wrong Woman, thinking it would be The Clue that would help me work out what was going on. Wrong! This was a twisty story indeed. It's narrated from two POVs, PI Reid, and Eshana Stiles. Eshana's involved in a terrible car crash that kills her husband and puts her in a medical coma. Reid's sent to investigate, and suddenly it seems there's something NQR (Not Quite Right) about quite a lot of things about the crash - and then quite a lot of things about those things are NQR too. I gave up trying to figure it out in the end because it was actually tremendous fun to read the tantalising reveal(s) JP Pomare gives us. Trust me, you'll eventually get there too, and I dare say enjoy the thrill of it all as much as I did. What a ride!
Thanks to Better Reading Preview and Hachette Australia for the review copy.
Thanks to Better Reading Preview and Hachette Australia for the review copy.
July 23, 2022
“The secrets of small towns have fascinated writers and readers since the first psychological thriller was penned” ~ Fiona Barton
.
.
.
Manson is the small town at the centre of The Wrong Woman by J.P Pomare. It’s the very same US town that Reid left ten years ago after an issue with his colleagues ended his career in the police force. Now a PI, Reid has an insurance claim to investigate that takes him back to his home town and right back into line of sight of his ex-colleagues. The insurance claim is for a car crash that left a man dead and his wife in a coma. The police see it as an open and shut case of driver error, but Reid finds himself drawn into a maelstrom of lies and secrets that place him at odds both with Manson and its cops
Told through dual timelines, this is a tightly plotted, deft and often tense thriller. JP Pomare is a kiwi writer and his debut novel won the Ngaio Marsh award for best first novel. Perhaps because of its US setting, The Wrong Woman had shades of Jack Reacher for me, the justice-seeking PI who stands alone and, terrier-like, is determined to dig his way to the truth no matter the danger. Eminently readable, I inhaled this book in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I wonder how long it’ll stay with me? Maybe that doesn’t even matter as it saw me through yet another wet and stormy wintery night
.
.
.
Manson is the small town at the centre of The Wrong Woman by J.P Pomare. It’s the very same US town that Reid left ten years ago after an issue with his colleagues ended his career in the police force. Now a PI, Reid has an insurance claim to investigate that takes him back to his home town and right back into line of sight of his ex-colleagues. The insurance claim is for a car crash that left a man dead and his wife in a coma. The police see it as an open and shut case of driver error, but Reid finds himself drawn into a maelstrom of lies and secrets that place him at odds both with Manson and its cops
Told through dual timelines, this is a tightly plotted, deft and often tense thriller. JP Pomare is a kiwi writer and his debut novel won the Ngaio Marsh award for best first novel. Perhaps because of its US setting, The Wrong Woman had shades of Jack Reacher for me, the justice-seeking PI who stands alone and, terrier-like, is determined to dig his way to the truth no matter the danger. Eminently readable, I inhaled this book in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I wonder how long it’ll stay with me? Maybe that doesn’t even matter as it saw me through yet another wet and stormy wintery night
July 24, 2022
Very enjoyable read, defiantly gave me Jack Reacher vibes. I loved the small town setting.
Reid was ostracized from his hometown 10 years ago when he was a police officer, he was literally run out of town and promised the Chief of police he would never return.
He made a new life for himself in the city. He's now a freelance PI, he's hired by an insurance firm to investigate a fatal car crash back in his old hometown. Reid returns, the town is divided the locals are furious over Reid's return and we learn what happened all those years ago, the accident that very publicly ended Reid's career.
I liked Reid' dogged approach to investigate the car accident, whist simultaneously another girl has gone missing from the area. As Reid connects the dots it the accident appears to be connected to the missing girls. There are a few twists in this one, the small town feel, secrets and lies all added to the tension in this book. It was a fun read, I liked Reid as a character and would love to see a second book with Reid, theres a lot of potential for his character. 3.75 rounded up to a 4 star read for me.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and JP Pomare for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
Reid was ostracized from his hometown 10 years ago when he was a police officer, he was literally run out of town and promised the Chief of police he would never return.
He made a new life for himself in the city. He's now a freelance PI, he's hired by an insurance firm to investigate a fatal car crash back in his old hometown. Reid returns, the town is divided the locals are furious over Reid's return and we learn what happened all those years ago, the accident that very publicly ended Reid's career.
I liked Reid' dogged approach to investigate the car accident, whist simultaneously another girl has gone missing from the area. As Reid connects the dots it the accident appears to be connected to the missing girls. There are a few twists in this one, the small town feel, secrets and lies all added to the tension in this book. It was a fun read, I liked Reid as a character and would love to see a second book with Reid, theres a lot of potential for his character. 3.75 rounded up to a 4 star read for me.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and JP Pomare for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
July 16, 2022
I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting! It’s a very fast paced book with two different points of view across two timelines. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but the overall reading experience was good.
If you like Christian White’s books, then you will probably enjoy this one. I wasn’t a massive fan of his first book Call me Evie but after reading this one, I will read his other books because The Wrong Woman was way better than the first one.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy.
If you like Christian White’s books, then you will probably enjoy this one. I wasn’t a massive fan of his first book Call me Evie but after reading this one, I will read his other books because The Wrong Woman was way better than the first one.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy.
August 29, 2022
3.5/4 perhaps .. this has all the elements I usually like in a crime story .. this time instead of a detective with baggage it’s an insurance investigator/PI .. I enjoyed at first then found the first person telling by Reid a bit irritating in it’s over simplicity .. story picked up again in momentum later .. unfortunately I didn’t really find myself caring about characters enough but overall enough of a good story to stay with it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews