Lori D. H.
Content Rating: 18+ Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense Published: February 18, 2020, by Park Row The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica is a story that will keep you guessing to the very end. This psychological thriller delves into murder, suicide, paranoia, and madness with a dark, edgy plot. There are twists and turns, some I figured out, and some that I did not see coming…at all. The story was well written, but I felt the pacing in the middle of the book lagged a bit but then picked up again in the last few chapters. The character development was excellent, I loved them all, even the diabolical ones. The story is told from three points of view, Sadie, Camille, and Mouse, an adorable, sweet six-year-old little girl whom I fell in love with. Sadie is a physician who is married to Will and they have two boys. Camille, who was Sadie’s roommate, met and fell in love with Will before Sadie and Will met. She is the other woman. “If it wasn’t for me, they never would have met. He was mine before he was hers.” “But I couldn’t stay away from Will forever.” After his sister’s death, Will inherits her dark, eerie house located on a remote island in Maine and her daughter Imogen. In an attempt to escape their many problems in Chicago, Will moves his wife Sadie and their two boys determined to make a fresh start. Sadie is not at all happy with the move, and to complicate the situation further, Sadie must deal with Imogen. Imogen is, with good reason, is a broken, angry, disturbed teenager. “I might not have seen her. But there she stands, a morose figure dressed in black.” Life over the next seven weeks starts to fall into place. Sadie, a physician, has found a fulltime job at the local clinic. Will has a part-time as an adjunct professor on the mainland. And their two boys, Otto and Tate, are settling into their schools. When their neighbor, Morgan Baines, is murdered, life in this seemingly idyllic town turns dark and twisted. Unfortunately, that is all I can reveal about this story without spoiling it. The Other Mrs. delivers a story that is filled with suspense and an eeriness that will have you turning on all the lights in your house. But the best part of this book is the multi-level reveals that will keep you turning the pages. I have been looking forward to reading a book by this author for some time, and I was not disappointed. I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Kubica. ** Please note the quotes in my review are subject to change once the book is published** *** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley, Park Row, and Mary Kubica. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. ***
8 people found this review helpful
Jennifer Oakley
Wow, this book was one hell of a ride from start to finish. The tension starts off nice and slow, building up to a breakneck crescendo that will leave you open mouthed with surprise. Because whatever theory you have before the last ball drops, you're wrong. The twist with Sadie was beautifully executed. Little breadcrumbs were dropped all along the way: a neighbor who saw her arguing with a woman she'd never met; her son claiming he saw her watching him at school; her other son claiming they'd had a conversation they never had. This is the kind of twist that I love: the kind that gives you all the clues, that you could have figured out, if only you'd paid more attention or pieced them together properly. The kind of twist that was there all along. Unfortunately, the final twist is the kind of twist that I hate: the kind where there aren't any clues, where you just take a sudden left turn with a big reveal that has no basis given to it by the rest of the book. Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I just wish that more of a foundation had been laid for the big reveal. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All views and opinions are my own.
4 people found this review helpful