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paperback_view's review against another edition
5.0
Joe's parents have been happily married for 60 years when he is called to the hospital after his father is brutally attacked. However, when Joe arrives at the hospital another woman is sitting by his fathers bed crying. Who is she?? Is she mentally unstable?? Is she a friend or did she try and kill Joe's father??
Robotham is a talented writer who weaves quite the unexpected plot twist that I did not see coming.
A real page turner
Robotham is a talented writer who weaves quite the unexpected plot twist that I did not see coming.
A real page turner
neilsb's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alesbookishcorner's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
hayley_loves_books's review against another edition
4.0
Michael Robothom has certainly hit his stride in recent years. This was an enjoyable read with an interesting premise.
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
I thought for sure that this novel would be a 4*, if not 5*, read from the first page. Though not immediately dramatic, it was immediately compelling, gripping my attention. I flew through the first half quickly, loving the layers of deception being revealed about the 'upstanding' William O'Loughlin. It remained compelling throughout, but I felt that the drama never came, and that is why it ended as a more average 3* rating.
By drama, I mean a sense of foreboding or tension, for the parts where you can only grip the book and try not to skim ahead to see what happens, the bits where your heart pounds and you wonder how the character will make it passed the hurdle... I didn't feel moved enough by the plot or characters to end up like this while reading.
William was central to the plot but, having never read another book in this series, was unknown to me. He was just a figure lying in a hospital bed and all I knew about him was what I found out through the book, none of which was good. So did I really care whether he lived or died?
Moreover, I felt that the involvement of Kenneth and David in certain elements of the plot were obvious, their reveal came quite late in the book but I wasn't at all surprised. Again, there was a distinct lack of tension and danger to keep me on the edge of my seat.
I thought that it was a very compelling read and was easily read as a standalone novel, but there was a lack of tension and danger for me that while compelling, didn't sustain my full attention through to the end.
By drama, I mean a sense of foreboding or tension, for the parts where you can only grip the book and try not to skim ahead to see what happens, the bits where your heart pounds and you wonder how the character will make it passed the hurdle... I didn't feel moved enough by the plot or characters to end up like this while reading.
William was central to the plot but, having never read another book in this series, was unknown to me. He was just a figure lying in a hospital bed and all I knew about him was what I found out through the book, none of which was good. So did I really care whether he lived or died?
Spoiler
Despite the book being called 'The Other Wife' and this being a central plot for the first half of the book, it seemed to taper off in the second part. Olivia was suddenly less suspicious and towards the very end was barely even mentioned. Her storyline wasn't tied up at all in this novel which felt unsatisfying.Moreover, I felt that the involvement of Kenneth and David in certain elements of the plot were obvious, their reveal came quite late in the book but I wasn't at all surprised. Again, there was a distinct lack of tension and danger to keep me on the edge of my seat.
I thought that it was a very compelling read and was easily read as a standalone novel, but there was a lack of tension and danger for me that while compelling, didn't sustain my full attention through to the end.
oakleighirish's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent instalment from Michael Robotham. Well written and thoroughly engaging.
writing_inthemountains's review against another edition
2.0
Wouldn’t read this book again, didn’t liked it that much but it was a page turner which is a plus when you’re reading a thriller. But it’s gross, humans described in this book are shallow and stupid and money orientated and I refuse to believe that this is human nature.
skys's review against another edition
2.0
It did not engage me. The side plots did not get developed (like with his daughter and his personal life); what was the point of having 2-3 chapters on it. The characters were pretty flat - everyone seem to have similar backgrounds - each family is ..."a mess".
sarahna's review
2.0
2 stars.
CW: Parkinson, attempted suicide, schizophrenia, drug addiction, grief, body shaming/ableist/transphobic remarks, bullying
I was really looking forward to this book blowing me away judging by its hype and the fact that I loved reading 'the secrets she keeps' and 'when she was good'. Sadly, I was disappointed. The premise is unique, mysterious and intriguing!
The book starts with the protagonist Joe talking about his life with Parkinson and how he's struggling with processing his grief whilst having to take care of his two daughters. A few chapters later he rushes to the hospital to visit his father who's in a coma after he's been brutally attacked in his own home. A mysterious woman sits next to his bed, her face obscured by the shadow. She introduces herself as his father's other wife. From then on the story spirals into several family dramas that are intertwined with his father's double life and former crimes that he managed to keep a secret.
Spoilers Embezzlement, adultery, botched surgeries, mentally ill relatives, neglected children and more convolute the plot to the point where it's hard to keep track of all the side plots and red herrings. This felt more like reading a messed up soap opera than a psycho thriller. Then there are several instances where I simply couldn't believe that Joe's supposed to be a psychologist: the moment his daughter Emma gets suspected of being on the autistic spectrum he goes off on the school employee reading him like Sherlock Holmes, fat shaming him and degrading him. As if having autism is a death sentence... then there's the instance he meets Bethany, a physically and mentally disable woman who he describes as crippled and sitting there in her own piss. He also likes the fact that his friend Ruiz is "mildly" sexist, racist and hates people who call themselves genderfluid. Being a bigot isn't a character trait.
The way Joe describes women throughout this book is also off putting: he describes many of them as being fat, not their optimal weight, only describes butts and boobs (when Olivia desperately clings to him all touch starved he merely mentions feeling her bra wire... I-??). Also there's an instant where the housekeepers just walks naked in his shower and tried to get her way with him but he awkwardly declines... it was all sorts of weird and didn't aid the plot whatsoever. She didn't reappear either. Oh and the other wife, Olivia, she just gets dropped in the second half of the book and isn't really important anymore. Ewan totally steals the show but is yet another stereotype of a schizophrenic character. Hearing voices, talking to god and all.
All in all it was still a pager turner, albeit one for hoping that it picks up the pace, ties up some b plots and hits you with a surprising twist. While the twist was surprising it wasn't plausible that Kenneth only burnt the evidence of his crimes 20 days later and the chase with Eugene was simply too much. I couldn't believe what I was reading. The fact that the O'loughlin series ended on romantic note made me eventually settle on a 2 star rating. just no. I'll stick to the Cyrus Haven series instead!
CW: Parkinson, attempted suicide, schizophrenia, drug addiction, grief, body shaming/ableist/transphobic remarks, bullying
I was really looking forward to this book blowing me away judging by its hype and the fact that I loved reading 'the secrets she keeps' and 'when she was good'. Sadly, I was disappointed. The premise is unique, mysterious and intriguing!
The book starts with the protagonist Joe talking about his life with Parkinson and how he's struggling with processing his grief whilst having to take care of his two daughters. A few chapters later he rushes to the hospital to visit his father who's in a coma after he's been brutally attacked in his own home. A mysterious woman sits next to his bed, her face obscured by the shadow. She introduces herself as his father's other wife. From then on the story spirals into several family dramas that are intertwined with his father's double life and former crimes that he managed to keep a secret.
Spoilers Embezzlement, adultery, botched surgeries, mentally ill relatives, neglected children and more convolute the plot to the point where it's hard to keep track of all the side plots and red herrings. This felt more like reading a messed up soap opera than a psycho thriller. Then there are several instances where I simply couldn't believe that Joe's supposed to be a psychologist: the moment his daughter Emma gets suspected of being on the autistic spectrum he goes off on the school employee reading him like Sherlock Holmes, fat shaming him and degrading him. As if having autism is a death sentence... then there's the instance he meets Bethany, a physically and mentally disable woman who he describes as crippled and sitting there in her own piss. He also likes the fact that his friend Ruiz is "mildly" sexist, racist and hates people who call themselves genderfluid. Being a bigot isn't a character trait.
The way Joe describes women throughout this book is also off putting: he describes many of them as being fat, not their optimal weight, only describes butts and boobs (when Olivia desperately clings to him all touch starved he merely mentions feeling her bra wire... I-??). Also there's an instant where the housekeepers just walks naked in his shower and tried to get her way with him but he awkwardly declines... it was all sorts of weird and didn't aid the plot whatsoever. She didn't reappear either. Oh and the other wife, Olivia, she just gets dropped in the second half of the book and isn't really important anymore. Ewan totally steals the show but is yet another stereotype of a schizophrenic character. Hearing voices, talking to god and all.
All in all it was still a pager turner, albeit one for hoping that it picks up the pace, ties up some b plots and hits you with a surprising twist. While the twist was surprising it wasn't plausible that Kenneth only burnt the evidence of his crimes 20 days later and the chase with Eugene was simply too much. I couldn't believe what I was reading. The fact that the O'loughlin series ended on romantic note made me eventually settle on a 2 star rating. just no. I'll stick to the Cyrus Haven series instead!
rhonaea's review against another edition
3.0
Nice audio book for listening to on car journeys. Pleasantly plotted, lots of twists and turns. I haven’t come across the Joe O’Loughlin books before but if there’s 9 and he can cope with being widowed, raising teenage girls single handed, Parkinson’s, being beaten-up x 2, mauled by dogs & burnt as well as finding a ‘stepmother’, half sibling (at least 1), saving a prostitute, resisting full on sexual assault by the babysitter, while solving a million pound fraud, modern and attempted murder; he is not a man with inbuilt limitations.