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There are currently 39 member reviews
for My Lovely Wife
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Julia A. (New York, NY)
My Not-so-Lovely Wife
"My Lovely Wife" is a page-turner. Almost from the beginning we know what the couple is doing; we gradually learn the why and the how. Along the way, we learn about the children, the friends, the acquaintances, the everyday life in the affluent area in which the family lives, and the victims, but not too much about the narrator, husband of Millicent, the "lovely wife" of the title. I went back over the novel a few times to see if the reader actually knows the narrator's real name. We know it's not Tobias, and most probably not Quentin, these being personas he adopts for the "extracurricular activities," in which he and his wife participate, seemingly as partners. As the novel unwinds, the reader, or at least this reader, is surprised by a brilliant plot twist toward the end of the saga, and a horrific denouement that is perhaps not so unexpected if we've been paying attention. As I read this novel, I found myself mentally casting the movie in my head, because there is a cinematic quality to the book that cannot be overlooked. "My Lovely Wife" could easily be 2019's 'Girl on the Train.'
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Deb T. (Belpre, OH)
Dexter It Ain't
It is a reversal of the Dexter series but quite a bit darker, not a lot of humor, and an end twist......those things being said, I couldn't put it down. Give it a try!
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Marion C. (Peabody, MA)
My Lovely Wife
When I chose to read My Lovely Wife, I knew dynamic love would develop but not this particular kind of strange love. Initially, I almost put the book down, not wanting to read a whole novel with these actions, but the prose is good, the characters are likable and the story moved fast. The end came. The final scene is unbelievable and almost comical. You will not be able to put down My Lovely Wife if you like dark mysteries. I recommend this debut novel.
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Jeanne W. (Colorado Springs, CO)
Mixed Review
It's hard to rate a story about a married pair of serial killers. If I say I liked it, what does that say about me? It was well-written and a fast read; the twists and turns just keep coming. But the idea of this couple picking out young women to capture, torture and kill while raising two young teenagers was repellent. Millicent and her husband (the unnamed narrator) live nice upper-middle class lives in a wealthy Florida suburb. She's a realtor and he's a tennis coach at the club so they have very flexible schedules. This allows plenty of time for their other ventures. But, of course, it can't go on forever and when a body is found the couple must scramble to cover their tracks. The effect this has on their family is both expected and unexpected. And the final twist at the end really makes you wonder.....
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Susie X
Hard to put down despite frustrations
It's a brisk page turner with some nice twists. The frustrating aspect of the book is that the narrator is not particularly realistic. He's supposedly smart yet he is both excited about murder but is deeply concerned about the impact of frightening, local murders on his kids' psychological well-being. This did not make much sense to me.
I wish the publisher hadn't referenced Mr & Mrs Smith on the book back as that reference gives too much away.
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Pam L. (Melbourne Beach, FL)
Paper cuts
Really a 4.5 star review. Chilling, compelling, keep you guessing. Samantha Downing's novel My Lovely Wife starts out intriguing, who is this man? His wife Millicent, chilling. Then the story simmers, leading into a runaway train ending that is unputdownable. Who is the evil one? What would you do to keep your marriage exciting? Exciting, creepy, haunting. An extraordinary page turner. Just clicks along. Set aside a day to just read it.
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Portia A. (Monroe Township, NJ)
Hard to put down
Full of surprises, twists and turns, this is a page turner.
Do read it. I don't want to say more; it might give too much away.
