Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - My Lovely Wife

3.75 rounded up.

I'm not always a mood reader, as I'm usually too focused on my library holds pile. But one of my goals this summer was to read more of my own books. I was in the mood for a dark thriller, so I chose this one, which has been on my shelf for months since I excidedly picked it up from a free book drop.

I appreciated the dark, nebulous atmosphere of husband and wife killing team. Told from the pov of the hubby, who assists his wife in the capture of the women but isn't there for the killing itself, we enter dark suburbia where this team has decided to kill to essentiallybhave better sex.

It isn't all that believable, but it is fast paced, grim, and thrilling. The husband isn't likeable. In fact, he's kind of pathetic and a bit of a doormat. The wife is a venomous viper, a terrifying black widow. It sounds cliche, and it probably is, but maybe that's what made it gripping.

Suburbia is boring, which is kind of the point of the book. They are bored, so they kill. Living in a gated community isn't as all its cracked up to be - or as safe as everyone thinks it is. I guess murder is the easy way out. Instead of admitting and problems or finding excitement in a more legal way, they've discovered they get turned on by becoming serial killers, while also unsuccessful parenting two teens.

My main complaint with the book was the ending.

I enjoyed the cat and mouse chase game. But I didn't like that he got away scot free and is convinced of his innocence. He isn't innocent. He may not have killed most of them or called the shots, but he was a willing participant for a long time.... and if the ending is a clue, he isn't going to stop.

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cbirv's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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sadiereads72's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A quick read with a plot that keeps you guessing. Was hard to get into because of the narrator being a straight guy but it was interesting to read a dark, serial-killer novel where the murderer is a woman. The last quarter of the book was thrilling but felt incredibly fast compared to the rest of the plot, this was probably intentional to convey the narrators feelings.

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jaydub0221's review

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dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

katiea714's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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corpseparty's review against another edition

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4.5

A thrilling read, although every twist is predictable

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rainstormdragon's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

Content Warnings

magis1105's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a reread for me. I seem to enjoy it more the second time around. All characters are unlikable, but I think they are meant to be. The main characters the married couple, are just two monsters who one should not be together and two definitely shouldn't have chosen to procreate just for the sake of the mental health of those unlucky children.
This is a book that really took me out of my comfort zone. It's definitely unconventional, with some of the most disturbing characters I've ever encountered. I won't spoil much, but let's just say that the author doesn't shy away from exploring the dark corners of the human psyche. It's definitely not a book for everyone, but if you're looking for something that will challenge you and make you question your own assumptions about what's morally acceptable, then this is definitely worth checking out.

The twists in the book were executed brilliantly and the dark humor used to develop the characters was both unsettling and captivating. And yes, the conclusion definitely caught me off guard, you need to suspend your disbelief a bit otherwise it's very unrealistic, but that alone did not dampen my enjoyment. It's always refreshing to come across a book that defies expectations and keeps you on your toes until the very end.

Samantha Downing's debut novel was absolutely incredible and left me eagerly anticipating her next work. The way she crafted the story was truly masterful. As for her character development, I am not too sure, but she has a lot of promise and she can only get better, that alone is enticing enough. Can't wait to see where she takes us next!

Full review can be found at: https://bunkerofbooks05.wixsite.com/bunker-of-books/post/my-lovely-wife

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