Such a Good Wife

by Seraphina Nova Glass

A sly, pulse-pounding thriller where lust and betrayal were just the beginning...

Melanie Hale is a devoted mother to her two children, a diligent caregiver to her ailing mother-in-law and a trusted neighbor in their wealthy Louisiana community. Above all, she's a loving partner to her wonderful husband, Collin.

Then there are the parts of herself that Mel keeps hidden. She's exhausted, worried and unfulfilled. So much so that one night, after a writers' group meeting, Mel begins an affair with a successful local author named Luke. Suddenly she's transformed into a role she doesn't recognize-a woman who deceives with unseemly ease. A woman who might be capable of just about anything.

When Mel finds Luke's dead body in his lavish rented house, she realizes just how high the stakes have become. Not only does she have to keep her affair a secret in order to preserve her marriage, but she desperately needs to avoid being implicated in Luke's death. But who would want to kill him? Who else in her life is keeping secrets? And most terrifying of all, how far will they-and she-go to keep those secrets hidden?

• ISBN13: 9781789099072
• Publish Date: 12 January 2022 (first published 10 August 2021)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Titan Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Such a Good Wife was an interesting and riveting tale of betrayal, murder, abuse and blackmail.

The story hooked the reader from the beginning. While reading l had a difficult time wrapping my mind around the title. The heroine, Melanie, did not strike me as a good wife. She cheated and lied to cover up her cheating. However, at the end I saw how well the title tied in with the Melanie’s actions.


Delivered solely from Melanie’s POV, the reader was privy to her inner turmoil regarding her actions. Initially, I found it difficult to cultivate a feeling of empathy for her. I kept wondering why would she cheat? Married to a wonderful husband and had two beautiful children. I get that she may have been overwhelmed with caring for a child on the autism spectrum and her mother-in-law who suffers from dementia. However, this did not excuse her actions. She herself didn’t even know why she did it.

Collin, her husband, was a sweetheart. He supported her in every way possible. He encouraged her to join a writing club to get her creative juices flowing. Guess it wasn’t enough.

As the story progressed, she pushed my sympathy button and honestly I kept wondering how she would pull herself out of the mess she place herself in. In the end I was like, OMG, you are one brave woman. I am not sure I would have the guts to do what she did. It goes to show when your back is against the wall, you will do all in your power to protect those you love. It is at this point the reader saw the extent of her loyalty. Is she really Such A Good Wife? Well, I will let you draw your own conclusions.

The secondary characters added to the suspense of the story. They all had motive. It was just a matter of figuring out who. I had a suspect in mind, although there were a few times where I questioned my theory.

The characters featured all had their flaws, which had to the authenticity of the story. The story may not have moved at a fast pace, but it proved difficult to put down. Glass too the reader on intense ride. 

To conclude, Such A Good Wife was an unputdownable read. If you enjoy a good slow burn domestic suspense that will have you glued to the pages, this would be a great addition to your reading list. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Quirky Cat]

Seraphina Nova Glass' latest thriller novel, Such a Good Wife, is a read that will have you on the edge of your seat. It asks the question; do we ever honestly know someone?

Melanie Hale is a proud mother of two and very happily married. Even while taking care of her sick MIL, she feels content with her life. That's what she keeps telling the world – and herself. Perhaps if she says it enough times, she'll believe herself.

She might have been able to believe that lie had she not finally found something that made her feel alive again. Or rather, someone. But that interaction is going to throw her entire life into upheaval, leaving her scrambling to protect her marriage – and herself.

"I could tell from the eerie, lifeless stare and gloss over his eyes that he was dead."

Such a Good Wife is a novel that is seemingly upfront about the twists it has in store – and that is how it succeeds in surprising its readers. This novel was somehow everything and nothing like what I expected, though it was certainly quite the thriller.

I would argue that Such a Good Wife fits perfectly between a domestic thriller and a psychological thriller. It has a little bit of both, in just the right proportions. The way the story unfolds certainly doesn't hurt, especially as tension builds.

Personally, I love a thriller that starts the story off by hinting at the conclusion. It makes it more fun to try and pick apart the tale and find all of the clues hidden inside. Such a Good Wife did not disappoint on either front; I am happy to report.

The thing I loved the most about Such a Good Wife had to be all of the surprises that were in store. I sincerely didn't see them coming, and that is so refreshing (is that a sign that I've been reading too many thrillers lately? I can't tell).

Thanks to Graydon House and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks