Description
Loving husband? Or total stranger?
When Ella wakes up in a hospital following a hit-and-run incident, she is scared and confused. Close to tears, her eyes fall on a get-well-soon card on the window sill and the nurse reassures her that her loving husband will be back soon...But Ella has never been married. In fact, she has lived alone her whole adult life; working hard, rarely socialising, quietly harbouring a terrible secret from her past. Fear sweeps through Ella when she instantly recognises the man who enters the ward. He is not her husband, but she knows that she must do as he says and play the part of dutiful wife. What choice does she have? He was there the night of the fire, he knows her secret too…
Review : 4 Stars
This books is very well written. It is interesting but seems pretty straightforward because it’s a slow burn. The plot moves between the present and the pst and told from Ella’s point of view. Given that it is slow moving it does take some effort to keep at it. The premise of the book is a standard domestic thriller cliche but still the writing is good enough to keep reading. And that keeping at it is rewarded with a great twist in the end! Not predictable at all.
In terms of character development I thought Ms. Hayes did an excellent job. Ella, Zach, Meggie are all well sketched out. Harry’s character is a little elusive and as Ella’s brother I think it warranted a little more insight or background. I liked the thought process of Ms. Hayes behind how the child was named by Jacob and by Ella herself. It is such small details that make you want to keep reading because you can see the spark that are in the author’s mind. I did find a few loopholes in the plot and found it hard to believe that Ella didn’t try to escape or get help even with a room full of her neighbors, one of whose husband is a detective!!! That was a hard pill to swallow but as the plot unfolds and we learn more about their past and you can emphasize with why Ella is so afraid of Jacob. It does not explain everything away but it does serve to add pause to the readers logical thought and forces the reader to re-consider things more emotionally.
All in all it’s a good read and the ending is truly rewarding!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #TheLiarsWife
