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mickeyme88's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the suspense and mystery of this book! I really didn’t see the ending coming at all, but loved it! The narrators did an excellent job building the tension.
I received an ARC from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
GRIPPING. INTENSE. UTTERLY BINGE-WORTHY!
THE SECRET WIFE by Emily Shiner is a wickedly plotted CHILLING cat-and-mouse psycho-thriller brimming with dark delicious surprises and characters that won't let you go. Behind this perfect family are dark secrets, lies, and manipulation.
Darkly funny, I loved CARA! Her character is so bloody good! Going from the mild-mannered subservient wife to the powerhouse and one controlling the narrative.
AUDIOBOOK: I could not tear myself away while listening to the audio in one sitting throughout the day and evening. It was SPINE-TINGLING, narrated by Natalie Duke and Wayne Mitchell, perfect for all the voices. Downright creepy, in fact.
If you LOVE strong women (that you think are docile in the beginning) and ones who can get the upper hand, flipping it around on a misogynist manipulative evil man and outsmart him,—you are going to love this one!
From alternating POVs of Cara and Michael, we learn the innermost thoughts of both.
As the book opens, we briefly are at a campground in a tent with two girls. Someone is leading them out of the tent.
Back at the house, before the camping trip with Cara and Michael. He plans an overnight camping trip with the two daughters, Laura from his first marriage (deceased), and their biological daughter, Olivia.
Cara is looking forward to some R&R and a weekend of stay-at-home reading, bingeing, relaxing, and eating a lot of junk food without interruptions. This is Michael's first overnight trip with the girls, and Cara wants to ensure they have everything they need.
Right before they leave, the couple has a discussion. Michael (bad childhood) wants a ton of children. He is very controlling and thinks he runs the show. He must have a perfectly orchestrated life. A narcissist, he thinks very highly of himself, and things must go as he plans. He is also a bank manager and the breadwinner.
What is he hiding? PLENTY!
Cara is now a stay-at-home mom and a great mother. She married him after his first wife died and has done an outstanding job raising his daughter. She does not want any more children. Cara is secretly taking birth control pills as well as her other little pill to keep her intact (mental health). He must keep her in check.
However, right after they leave, she learns Laura has forgotten her stuffed animal, Mr. Purple, that her mom gave her and will not be able to sleep without him.
Also, there is a strange man in front of her house and Cara realizes it is the same homeless-looking man they saw at the restaurant the night before and Michael seemed weird. She also is in the attic and sees something that is also strange.
With poor cell phone service in the mountains, she decides to drive to the campground with Mr. Purple. However, when they arrive back at the tent, they find the girls are missing. Michael left them alone in the tent in the forest away from other campers next to the river in a remote area, while he went to the car to look for the stuffed animal. They were to remain there.
Cara is beside herself why Michael left the girls in the middle of the woods alone. A full-blown investigation by the authorities is now underway. Michael of course does not take the blame. Not his fault, of course.
Cara saw things and as a child, they put her on medication - the pills. Now she decides she does not need the little pills in order to deal with her missing daughter and what her husband is hiding She needs to think clearly. Focus. She needs to be alert.
Two pills. Each morning she takes them to protect her. One keeps her from having another baby. The other pill keeps her from succumbing to the sorrow that can grow and take over. But she must find her daughters.
"Only one tiny pill stands between me and that darkness, and I'm not sure if I took it this morning."
And man, when she goes off the pills, her personality changes from the sweet little wife that Michael thinks he can run over and manipulate to the focused and determined Mama Bear terminator!
Then later, back at the campground, Olivia mysteriously shows up in the tent, zipped up, but Laura is still missing.
Gosh, I love her new personality! Watch out, Michael, TICK TOK! Your lies, secrets, and past are about to be unraveled. The scene in the attic and at the inn was priceless!
While they frantically search for Laura, it becomes clear that this is no random abduction —her disappearance is linked to shocking secrets that are only now being revealed.
How far will Cara go to find her daughter? How well does she really know her husband? Is she paranoid, crazy, or right on? Time is running out. A tenacious mother fights for her children's lives while trying to unravel her husband's secret life.
"Riveting suspense, shocking revelations, and pitch-perfect dialogue make this one a WINNER. With multi-twists and a breakneck pace, THE SECRET WIFE is an utterly compelling thriller where nothing is as it appears to the satisfying conclusion."
What I love about #NetGalley and #Dreamscape is the opportunity to discover new authors and titles that generally would not be on my radar. In addition, the audiobook had some negative reviews about the narration, but thank goodness I did not let those influence my decision to request the audio. Just an example, you cannot always go by reviews. Everyone has a different take on books, genres, and narrators. I loved the KILLER TWIST and looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I read a lot of thrillers and many are audio. I adore ones with dark humor. Fans of Kaira Rouda, Hannah Mary McKinnon, and Kimberly Belle will enjoy this one.
A special thank you to #DREAMSCAPE Media and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen, enjoy, and review this one. I also loved it so much that I purchased the e-book.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
July 2022 Must-ReadBooks List
THE SECRET WIFE by Emily Shiner is a wickedly plotted CHILLING cat-and-mouse psycho-thriller brimming with dark delicious surprises and characters that won't let you go. Behind this perfect family are dark secrets, lies, and manipulation.
Darkly funny, I loved CARA! Her character is so bloody good! Going from the mild-mannered subservient wife to the powerhouse and one controlling the narrative.
AUDIOBOOK: I could not tear myself away while listening to the audio in one sitting throughout the day and evening. It was SPINE-TINGLING, narrated by Natalie Duke and Wayne Mitchell, perfect for all the voices. Downright creepy, in fact.
If you LOVE strong women (that you think are docile in the beginning) and ones who can get the upper hand, flipping it around on a misogynist manipulative evil man and outsmart him,—you are going to love this one!
From alternating POVs of Cara and Michael, we learn the innermost thoughts of both.
As the book opens, we briefly are at a campground in a tent with two girls. Someone is leading them out of the tent.
Back at the house, before the camping trip with Cara and Michael. He plans an overnight camping trip with the two daughters, Laura from his first marriage (deceased), and their biological daughter, Olivia.
Cara is looking forward to some R&R and a weekend of stay-at-home reading, bingeing, relaxing, and eating a lot of junk food without interruptions. This is Michael's first overnight trip with the girls, and Cara wants to ensure they have everything they need.
Right before they leave, the couple has a discussion. Michael (bad childhood) wants a ton of children. He is very controlling and thinks he runs the show. He must have a perfectly orchestrated life. A narcissist, he thinks very highly of himself, and things must go as he plans. He is also a bank manager and the breadwinner.
What is he hiding? PLENTY!
Cara is now a stay-at-home mom and a great mother. She married him after his first wife died and has done an outstanding job raising his daughter. She does not want any more children. Cara is secretly taking birth control pills as well as her other little pill to keep her intact (mental health). He must keep her in check.
However, right after they leave, she learns Laura has forgotten her stuffed animal, Mr. Purple, that her mom gave her and will not be able to sleep without him.
Also, there is a strange man in front of her house and Cara realizes it is the same homeless-looking man they saw at the restaurant the night before and Michael seemed weird. She also is in the attic and sees something that is also strange.
With poor cell phone service in the mountains, she decides to drive to the campground with Mr. Purple. However, when they arrive back at the tent, they find the girls are missing. Michael left them alone in the tent in the forest away from other campers next to the river in a remote area, while he went to the car to look for the stuffed animal. They were to remain there.
Cara is beside herself why Michael left the girls in the middle of the woods alone. A full-blown investigation by the authorities is now underway. Michael of course does not take the blame. Not his fault, of course.
Cara saw things and as a child, they put her on medication - the pills. Now she decides she does not need the little pills in order to deal with her missing daughter and what her husband is hiding She needs to think clearly. Focus. She needs to be alert.
Two pills. Each morning she takes them to protect her. One keeps her from having another baby. The other pill keeps her from succumbing to the sorrow that can grow and take over. But she must find her daughters.
"Only one tiny pill stands between me and that darkness, and I'm not sure if I took it this morning."
And man, when she goes off the pills, her personality changes from the sweet little wife that Michael thinks he can run over and manipulate to the focused and determined Mama Bear terminator!
Then later, back at the campground, Olivia mysteriously shows up in the tent, zipped up, but Laura is still missing.
Gosh, I love her new personality! Watch out, Michael, TICK TOK! Your lies, secrets, and past are about to be unraveled. The scene in the attic and at the inn was priceless!
While they frantically search for Laura, it becomes clear that this is no random abduction —her disappearance is linked to shocking secrets that are only now being revealed.
How far will Cara go to find her daughter? How well does she really know her husband? Is she paranoid, crazy, or right on? Time is running out. A tenacious mother fights for her children's lives while trying to unravel her husband's secret life.
"Riveting suspense, shocking revelations, and pitch-perfect dialogue make this one a WINNER. With multi-twists and a breakneck pace, THE SECRET WIFE is an utterly compelling thriller where nothing is as it appears to the satisfying conclusion."
What I love about #NetGalley and #Dreamscape is the opportunity to discover new authors and titles that generally would not be on my radar. In addition, the audiobook had some negative reviews about the narration, but thank goodness I did not let those influence my decision to request the audio. Just an example, you cannot always go by reviews. Everyone has a different take on books, genres, and narrators. I loved the KILLER TWIST and looking forward to reading more books by this author.
I read a lot of thrillers and many are audio. I adore ones with dark humor. Fans of Kaira Rouda, Hannah Mary McKinnon, and Kimberly Belle will enjoy this one.
A special thank you to #DREAMSCAPE Media and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen, enjoy, and review this one. I also loved it so much that I purchased the e-book.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
July 2022 Must-ReadBooks List
brianas_'s review against another edition
2.0
This just is not it….. just don’t do it.
I enjoyed my first read from this author the other week but both books leave me wanting more at the end. I’m going to give another book a try to see how I feel. But this is lackluster.
I enjoyed my first read from this author the other week but both books leave me wanting more at the end. I’m going to give another book a try to see how I feel. But this is lackluster.
heatheradoresbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.75⭐ rounded up
Featuring ~ dual POV
So I feel like I've read many a book with a similar plot, but Emily made it her own and I can't fault her that.
Cara is looking for some alone time, so she sends her husband, Michael and 2 girls on a camping trip without her. When she notices that Laura has forgotten her beloved stuffed animal, Cara drives to the campsite to give it to her.
Michael has left the girls alone in the tent while he goes to the car to look for the stuffed animal. On his way there he runs into Cara. When they get back to the campsite they discover the girls are gone!
There were some heart pounding moments when they made the discovery and are frantically searching for Laura and Olivia. Olivia is returned, but who still has Laura?
Overall, I enjoyed this fast paced domestic/psychological, suspenseful thriller. There are plenty of secrets and lies ~ some good, some blah. I would give this author a whirl again.
Narration:
Natalie Duke & Wayne Mitchell ~ 7 hours and 13 minutes ~ and they did an alright job. I didn't love their opposite sex voices, his was worse than hers.
*Thanks to [a:Dreamscape Media LLC|19425262|Dreamscape Media LLC|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Emily Shiner|21566493|Emily Shiner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1666351081p2/21566493.jpg] and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual POV
So I feel like I've read many a book with a similar plot, but Emily made it her own and I can't fault her that.
Cara is looking for some alone time, so she sends her husband, Michael and 2 girls on a camping trip without her. When she notices that Laura has forgotten her beloved stuffed animal, Cara drives to the campsite to give it to her.
Michael has left the girls alone in the tent while he goes to the car to look for the stuffed animal. On his way there he runs into Cara. When they get back to the campsite they discover the girls are gone!
There were some heart pounding moments when they made the discovery and are frantically searching for Laura and Olivia. Olivia is returned, but who still has Laura?
Overall, I enjoyed this fast paced domestic/psychological, suspenseful thriller. There are plenty of secrets and lies ~ some good, some blah. I would give this author a whirl again.
Narration:
Natalie Duke & Wayne Mitchell ~ 7 hours and 13 minutes ~ and they did an alright job. I didn't love their opposite sex voices, his was worse than hers.
*Thanks to [a:Dreamscape Media LLC|19425262|Dreamscape Media LLC|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Emily Shiner|21566493|Emily Shiner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1666351081p2/21566493.jpg] and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
ashleyfuhr's review against another edition
4.0
A husband takes his daughters on a daddy daughter bonding trip, but then one daughter goes missing. Will he and is wife join together to find their daughter, or will the pressure make one of them break?
I enjoyed this audiobook! I thought the suspense and build up was well paced, and the ending kept you on the edge of your seat but wasn't too rushed. Just when you thought you were figuring things out, there was a new twist that kept you intrigued! I thought the narrators did a great job, and I enjoyed having both a male and female portray the different roles.
I would definitely recommend this book to my suspense loving friends.
I received an audio copy of this book via NetGalley. I read and reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
I enjoyed this audiobook! I thought the suspense and build up was well paced, and the ending kept you on the edge of your seat but wasn't too rushed. Just when you thought you were figuring things out, there was a new twist that kept you intrigued! I thought the narrators did a great job, and I enjoyed having both a male and female portray the different roles.
I would definitely recommend this book to my suspense loving friends.
I received an audio copy of this book via NetGalley. I read and reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
thriller_chick's review against another edition
Pub date: July 5, 2022
Well… I did enjoy this book, at first. It was fast paced and easy to binge but at some point it took a dive from having great potential to being poorly executed. Then the ending…
readwithpitties's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first book by this author! And it was a fast paced thriller! I finished it in a few day! I did the audiobook Version and the narrators did a great jobs! We have what we think is a sweet little family, Michael the father, Cara the mother and two little girls Laura and Olivia. Laura is from Michaels first marriage that he says the wife has died and Olivia is the baby from his marriage with Kara. But Kara has fallen in love with Laura and sees her as her own daughter.
Michael has a camping trip planned for him in the two girls why Cara has a weekend alone at home. But the camping trip doesn’t go as planned when Michael has to leave the girls to go back to the car and when he comes back they are gone than a few hours later Olivia shows back up but not Laura.
As this story goes on we learn some stuff about Michael and that he isn’t what Cara thought he was and he is hiding some stuff from her. Cara also had been taking some medications for mental health sense she was younger but when her daughter goes missing she stops taking them and realizes how much her senses have dulled why taking them and she finally sees what is going on in front of her and she makes a plan and will stop at nothing to get her daughter back.
This was full was twist and turns and kept me guessing through out the whole book and I really enjoyed it! And that ending! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook for review!
Michael has a camping trip planned for him in the two girls why Cara has a weekend alone at home. But the camping trip doesn’t go as planned when Michael has to leave the girls to go back to the car and when he comes back they are gone than a few hours later Olivia shows back up but not Laura.
As this story goes on we learn some stuff about Michael and that he isn’t what Cara thought he was and he is hiding some stuff from her. Cara also had been taking some medications for mental health sense she was younger but when her daughter goes missing she stops taking them and realizes how much her senses have dulled why taking them and she finally sees what is going on in front of her and she makes a plan and will stop at nothing to get her daughter back.
This was full was twist and turns and kept me guessing through out the whole book and I really enjoyed it! And that ending! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook for review!
justkeyreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ianrosales08's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my first encounter with the author and I can say that I am impressed. In a nutshell, the story revolves around a family wherein the father takes his two daughters on a camping trip and things start to spiral down and secrets begin to unveil little by little until I learn the true essence of each character.
The story has multiple plot twists and some of them were hidden thoroughly while some were easy to guess. Nonetheless, the story is highly entertaining and the pacing is fast. I finished this book in just one sitting and I intend to read more of this author's works.
The story has multiple plot twists and some of them were hidden thoroughly while some were easy to guess. Nonetheless, the story is highly entertaining and the pacing is fast. I finished this book in just one sitting and I intend to read more of this author's works.
kentucky_girl91's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay, what? What did I just read! That plot twist though! Like when it was revealed, I just stared at my phone, in complete disbelief. I thought I liked out MC, Michael, who seems to be the hurt man who lost his ex wife and mother of his first child. Sounds heartbreaking, right? yeah, well that's what I thought, too. Until it wasn't sweet at all, and I hated his guts. Thought he was the scum of the earth. I felt so bad for Cara, his current wife. Michael, If that is his real name (read this one to find out if he's who he says he is!) is full of secrets and lies, and he is the most awful person.
This one was a whirlwind, and I devoured it. It was so gripping, and I needed to know more and understand what was happening with each turn of the page.
Emily Shiner was a new to me author, and this one made me want more of her writing! Now, off to look up her backlist of books!
Thank you to netgalley, and Emily Shiner for the advanced listener copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own!
This one was a whirlwind, and I devoured it. It was so gripping, and I needed to know more and understand what was happening with each turn of the page.
Emily Shiner was a new to me author, and this one made me want more of her writing! Now, off to look up her backlist of books!
Thank you to netgalley, and Emily Shiner for the advanced listener copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own!