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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
This was solidly mediocre. It was entertaining enough that I read the whole thing but I immediately gave it away and will not be reading more by the same author.
Beth was a doormat who mostly either talked about keeping strong for her child or moaned about being apart from Tom. Tom was hard to get a read on but he mostly just comes across as generally unlikable or deeply cruel, depending on the POV of the chapter. They’re both boring and I didn’t really care about either of them. They were both too perfect - as was the village. Any flaws were surface level. Poppy felt less like a person and more like a plot device.
I liked the slow way the town turned on Beth - from sympathy when nothing was known to outward disdain when things become uncovered. That, I felt, was real. The cafe also felt like somewhere I’d like to visit. The potential romance plotline was…inevitable and he bored me also.
The ending tried to be shocking, which it was, but fell flat for me. It felt too sudden and unexpected without any lead up. However, it was still one of the best parts.
The writer studied psychology then worked in a prison and by drawing on those she did very well, though it did seem to jump between psychological analysis and Beth letting it down.
I recently read a book dealing with the aftermath of a wife discovering her husband was a serial killer which I loved so I probably did go into this with high expectations.
Beth was a doormat who mostly either talked about keeping strong for her child or moaned about being apart from Tom. Tom was hard to get a read on but he mostly just comes across as generally unlikable or deeply cruel, depending on the POV of the chapter. They’re both boring and I didn’t really care about either of them. They were both too perfect - as was the village. Any flaws were surface level. Poppy felt less like a person and more like a plot device.
I liked the slow way the town turned on Beth - from sympathy when nothing was known to outward disdain when things become uncovered. That, I felt, was real. The cafe also felt like somewhere I’d like to visit. The potential romance plotline was…inevitable and he bored me also.
The ending tried to be shocking, which it was, but fell flat for me. It felt too sudden and unexpected without any lead up. However, it was still one of the best parts.
The writer studied psychology then worked in a prison and by drawing on those she did very well, though it did seem to jump between psychological analysis and Beth letting it down.
I recently read a book dealing with the aftermath of a wife discovering her husband was a serial killer which I loved so I probably did go into this with high expectations.
They're saying he's a monster - he is.
They're saying she knew - she did.
Beth, our serial killers wife, is a beige mum. With a beige life. If we could go more than one page without perfect poppy being mentioned, that would have been a miracle.
One night, 2 DCI officers show up on Beth's front door of her perfect little cottage and shatter her perfect little life. Her husband is hauled in for questioning about a murder.
Plot twist. He did actually do it. But the real twist is it was his wife who sold him down the river.
I did enjoy this. However, it was painfuly slow at times. The police procedural were not researched enough, and I saw the main twist coming pretty early on. A solid 3*
They're saying she knew - she did.
Beth, our serial killers wife, is a beige mum. With a beige life. If we could go more than one page without perfect poppy being mentioned, that would have been a miracle.
One night, 2 DCI officers show up on Beth's front door of her perfect little cottage and shatter her perfect little life. Her husband is hauled in for questioning about a murder.
Plot twist. He did actually do it. But the real twist is it was his wife who sold him down the river.
I did enjoy this. However, it was painfuly slow at times. The police procedural were not researched enough, and I saw the main twist coming pretty early on. A solid 3*
I had originally passed on the idea of reading and reviewing this book, but when the publisher emailed me suggesting that I might like it considering other books I’d reviewed, I decided to take a chance. I’m glad I did.
We ALL keep secrets. Doesn’t matter how long we’ve been married. Beth and Tom Hardcastle are no exception.
Don’t skip over the author’s note prior to chapter 1. It gives readers a framework for the novel. Knowing the author’s background will help readers understand that Alice Hunter is using her experience to explore the psychology of the criminal mind. Instead of seeing Tom and Beth’s subconscious actions as irritating, we now see them differently. We are seeing how a calculating mind works to manipulate and rearrange events to fit a predetermined outcome.
I absolutely loved that I was dropped into the plot mid-action. No background info was given nor needed. The pace was quick and thrilling for the introduction and conclusion. The author expertly spoon feeds information and readers jump to conclusions only to discover that their gut reaction was wrong. The twist was fantastic. The characters were great. Having both perspectives made for a fantastic read as we soon find out they are unreliable. The epilogue suggests that the author might have a sequel in mind? Perhaps I’m wrong and it’s going to be part of her signature style to leave us wanting a neat and tidy ending.
Thank you to Alice Hunter, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this domestic thriller. I received my advance copy for free and was under no obligation to provide feedback.
Publishes May 27, 2021
We ALL keep secrets. Doesn’t matter how long we’ve been married. Beth and Tom Hardcastle are no exception.
Don’t skip over the author’s note prior to chapter 1. It gives readers a framework for the novel. Knowing the author’s background will help readers understand that Alice Hunter is using her experience to explore the psychology of the criminal mind. Instead of seeing Tom and Beth’s subconscious actions as irritating, we now see them differently. We are seeing how a calculating mind works to manipulate and rearrange events to fit a predetermined outcome.
I absolutely loved that I was dropped into the plot mid-action. No background info was given nor needed. The pace was quick and thrilling for the introduction and conclusion. The author expertly spoon feeds information and readers jump to conclusions only to discover that their gut reaction was wrong. The twist was fantastic. The characters were great. Having both perspectives made for a fantastic read as we soon find out they are unreliable. The epilogue suggests that the author might have a sequel in mind? Perhaps I’m wrong and it’s going to be part of her signature style to leave us wanting a neat and tidy ending.
Thank you to Alice Hunter, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this domestic thriller. I received my advance copy for free and was under no obligation to provide feedback.
Publishes May 27, 2021
I liked the outline for this book, and I was intrigued by the story. Sadly, it fell a bit flat. I did not connect with any of the characters. The book should have been a lot shorter. It was a fast and easy read, but I kept on waiting for the twists, and there were a couple of them, but I had figured them out beforehand.
The ending saved the book, because it gave it that little extra something I felt was missing from the rest of the book. I think the characters were behaving strangely, and they did not feel quite real to me.
The ending saved the book, because it gave it that little extra something I felt was missing from the rest of the book. I think the characters were behaving strangely, and they did not feel quite real to me.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* Hunter takes a nightmare situation and makes it seem so real. Beth and Tom's life seems so perfect on paper, but all is not as it seems. When Beth's husband Tom is arrested for murdering an ex-girlfriend many years ago, Beth is forced to confront the truth about her husband and her marriage. All whilst keeping her business running and taking care of her young daughter, Poppy. Bit by bit, as Tom's past is revealed, Beth is forced to make difficult decisions to keep herself and her daughter safe. An enjoyable and intriguing read.
"The Serial Killer"s Wife" by Alice Hunter focuses on Beth & Tom Hardcastle. They have by all accounts an amazing life together-- they both are successful businesspeople, they have a beautiful home, and an amazing daughter, Poppy. They have the type of life many would be envious of.
All that changes one evening when Tom is home late from work. Beth begins to panic- was he in an accident? When the cops knock of her door, her first fear is that something horrible has happened. Only, it turns out to be not what she thought: Tom isn't hurt, but the cops think he might have hurt someone else--his former lover, Katie.
The book follows on Tom being arrested and charged for Katie's murder. Then, along the way, more tidbits are dropped, and more women appear connected to Tom. While Beth is coping with the new madness that is her life, she forms convenient friendships. These friendships were some of the more interesting parts of the book for me.
This book was certainly interesting and I did enjoy going along for the ride; however, I do believe the first half of the book dragged a bit, while the last part was rushed. That is really my only wish for the book was that the pacing was different. It wasn't a page-turner for me, but rather a gradual build up.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All that changes one evening when Tom is home late from work. Beth begins to panic- was he in an accident? When the cops knock of her door, her first fear is that something horrible has happened. Only, it turns out to be not what she thought: Tom isn't hurt, but the cops think he might have hurt someone else--his former lover, Katie.
The book follows on Tom being arrested and charged for Katie's murder. Then, along the way, more tidbits are dropped, and more women appear connected to Tom. While Beth is coping with the new madness that is her life, she forms convenient friendships. These friendships were some of the more interesting parts of the book for me.
This book was certainly interesting and I did enjoy going along for the ride; however, I do believe the first half of the book dragged a bit, while the last part was rushed. That is really my only wish for the book was that the pacing was different. It wasn't a page-turner for me, but rather a gradual build up.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes