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auscaz's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Murder, and Child abuse
lenthegreywitch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
π βππ₯πππ: 4 stars - Really enjoyed overall, maybe had a couple meh complaints, but recommend to lovers of the genres
π€ πππ‘π£ππ€π€ππ ππ€: this one started right in and you get the backstory as you go along. I was pretty hooked from the start, then intrigued about our MMC's personality the entire time. he was really quite fascinating; it takes a special sort of person to actively be one of the villains in their own story while simultaneously making me FEEL for them haha. FMC was just...wow. they were both written so well that I didn't even feel like I was reading a book about murder almost until the 3rd act. they just seemed like a regular ol' married couple, living their lives, dealing with the same bs that every married couple has to deal with when you've been together for 15+ years - but then also, *plot* lmao. entirely well written with just a few places where I was like "lol no," either because I found something too implausible or too convenient. would highly recommend!
π§ πΈπ¦πππ ππ π π: David Pittu is a new fave! his voices were absolutely impeccable - a true master of the craft. accents, pitch, whiny brat kids, annoying southern reporters haha this dude did it ALL and it was wonderful to listen to. female/femme voices were A++ IMO
πΆοΈ ππ‘πππ: no descriptive spice, though the characters engage in intercourse multiple times; and it is, actually, one of the key things that accelerates the plot
π§ πΈππ ππ πΈππ: really glad I spent time with this one; definitely going to look up more of Samantha Downing's work and for SURE more from David Pittu. A++ work all around.
π€ πππ‘π£ππ€π€ππ ππ€: this one started right in and you get the backstory as you go along. I was pretty hooked from the start, then intrigued about our MMC's personality the entire time. he was really quite fascinating; it takes a special sort of person to actively be one of the villains in their own story while simultaneously making me FEEL for them haha. FMC was just...wow. they were both written so well that I didn't even feel like I was reading a book about murder almost until the 3rd act. they just seemed like a regular ol' married couple, living their lives, dealing with the same bs that every married couple has to deal with when you've been together for 15+ years - but then also, *plot* lmao. entirely well written with just a few places where I was like "lol no," either because I found something too implausible or too convenient. would highly recommend!
π§ πΈπ¦πππ ππ π π: David Pittu is a new fave! his voices were absolutely impeccable - a true master of the craft. accents, pitch, whiny brat kids, annoying southern reporters haha this dude did it ALL and it was wonderful to listen to. female/femme voices were A++ IMO
πΆοΈ ππ‘πππ: no descriptive spice, though the characters engage in intercourse multiple times; and it is, actually, one of the key things that accelerates the plot
π§ πΈππ ππ πΈππ: really glad I spent time with this one; definitely going to look up more of Samantha Downing's work and for SURE more from David Pittu. A++ work all around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
monicabach's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
What a ride! Loved it. Couldnβt put it down. I like the authorβs writing style.
Content warnings: implied sex, nothing graphic; infrequent cursing, no F bombs; violence is not graphic.
Content warnings: implied sex, nothing graphic; infrequent cursing, no F bombs; violence is not graphic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Infidelity, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Suicide
starrfishandcoffee's review
challenging
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
2.5
UGH. This really could have been a good book. So much time was wasted and the narrator/the husband was such a freaking moron. I wanted to like this because it was twisty and dark and unique (how many thrillers are there about female serial killers ??)
It was just really disturbing to think abouta couple stalking murdering women and then going about their lives raising children
Eh. Could have been more of a cat and mouse trope and that would have hooked me.
It was just really disturbing to think about
Eh. Could have been more of a cat and mouse trope and that would have hooked me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Torture
katwebb's review
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse
jj_tj's review
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Infidelity, and Torture
Minor: Blood and Drug use
keppers_jax's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
So many plot twists!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, and Torture
augustinedreams's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Torture, Suicide, Stalking, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, and Toxic relationship
jennabeck13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ (4/5)
Genre: Thriller
About 370 pages
When youβve been with a romantic partner for a while, it can be hard to keep things fresh. Some couples decide they need more date nights, to spice things up in the bedroom, etc., but Millicent and her husband keep things fresh by selecting women to murder. You heard that rightβ¦ This couple has killed several women and gotten away with it. But in order to keep it going, they need to set up a fall guy. In an attempt to do so, they create a media frenzy like never before that is now affecting their children. With things not going as planned, they must choose between their kids and their favorite βpastimeβ.
WHAT DID I JUST READ? This book was CRAZY and I could not put it down. The two main characters are disturbing and diabolical. I disliked them as humans but at the same time couldnβt get enough of them. There was a ton of dark humor that landed perfectly and enhanced the storytelling. I donβt want to go into more detail for fear of spoiling things but if you havenβt read this already, ADD IT TO YOUR TBR.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Mental illness, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Car accident
alba_marie's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
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. .
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Blood and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent