'My Lovely Wife' by Samantha Downing is a thrilling novel that follows the story of a seemingly perfect suburban couple who engage in a dark and twisted double life of murder. The plot unfolds through the husband's perspective as he narrates their murderous spree orchestrated by his wife, Millicent. As the story progresses, the facade of their normal family life crumbles, revealing a chilling tale of deception and manipulation. The book is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they uncover the true extent of the couple's sinister activities.

Characters:

The characters exhibit complex interactions, with the husband often portrayed as submissive and the wife as a dominating force, all while navigating the impacts of their actions on their children.

Writing/Prose:

The writing utilizes a first-person narrative style that offers insight into the characters' minds while also maintaining a sense of detachment, generating a mixed emotional impact on readers.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative involves a married couple engaging in murder as a means to rejuvenate their relationship, layered with dramatic family dynamics and surprising twists.

Setting:

The suburban setting highlights the juxtaposition of ordinary family life against the backdrop of their dark secrets, enhancing the eerie atmosphere.

Pacing:

Pacing varies, with an initially slow burn that transforms into a faster tempo as key plot points are revealed, culminating in a resolution that some readers found unsatisfying.

SHEISLOOKING at me. Her blue eyes are glassy, they flicker down to her drink and back up. I look at my own drink and can feel her watching, wondering if I’m as interested as she is. I glance over and ...

Notes:

The story is told entirely from the husband's point of view, and he is never named throughout the book.

The couple, Millicent and her husband, spice up their dull marriage by committing murder.

Millicent is portrayed as the manipulative, dominant partner, with the husband often playing a submissive role.

The couple has two teenage children, Rory and Jenna, who are both affected by their parents' dark secret.

The book contrasts the family's normal life with their horrific activities, creating a sense of psychological tension.

Millicent's character is described as cold and emotionless, lacking basic conscience.

The novel's twists and turns keep readers guessing, with many surprises in the second half.

Some readers found the pacing slow at first, but the story picks up momentum later on.

Despite the disturbing premise, some readers found it surprisingly engaging and even found themselves rooting for the couple.

The ending has been described as rushed, yet it includes a final sentence that leaves a lasting impact.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers/content warnings include themes of murder, emotional manipulation, psychological abuse, and general violence, which may be disturbing for some readers.

From The Publisher:

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

INSTANT #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

USA Today bestseller

Edgar + ITW Thriller Award nominee for Best First Novel

"Think: Dexter but sexier."-theSkimm

"A dark and irresistible debut."-People

"Will shock even the savviest suspense readers."-Real Simple

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We're your neighbors, the parents of your kid's friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have our secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

Ratings (71)

Incredible (14)
Loved It (21)
Liked It (22)
It Was OK (8)
Did Not Like (5)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (168):

Read It (73)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (70)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (21)

4 comment(s)

sunbud402

It Was OK

4 months

Why is the cover of the Penguin edition some random blue-eyed woman when they keep repeating over and over that she has green eyes? Had to remove the dust jacket while reading, it was bothering me that much

_readwithlauren_

Incredible

5 months

WOW!!! This book was a roller coaster. I highly highly recommend this book. You will not regret reading it!

ncltup375

Liked It

6 months

I was so ready to HATE this book but the ending was exciting. I just thought there were a lot of parts that seemed far fetched. I can appreciate the suspense if I just take the story as it is and refrain from thinking too hard about it.

miecat462

Did Not Like

1 year

bland and mediocre from start to finish. there was a bump up like two thirds in that put it into the realm of Almost Good and then when it dropped down again it was even worse by comparison. if you're going to spend the whole book building this foundation up just to drop it for a plot twist i at least expect you to DO something with it. like???? the most compelling character in this gets the worst possible ending and no one gets properly punished for Anything ever. if you're considering reading this after Gone Girl i advise you to not waste your time and if you're reading it before Gone Girl then go ahead because its going to severly lower all your expectations forever

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About the Author:

Samantha Downing currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away at her next thrilling novel.

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My Lovely Wife

Samantha Downing