You think you know those closest to you. You are wrong…
A sleep-deprived new mother approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing Louisa wants to do is celebrate.But when her friend Tiff organises a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Louisa’s Facebook friends, Louisa is faced with a room full of people she hasn’t spoken to in years – including someone she neverexpected to see again: her ex-boyfriend, Oliver Dunmore.
When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers the night differently. Someone knows what happened to Melissa, and Louisa is determined to find them. But the truth could be closer, and the deception more devastating, than she’d ever imagined…A gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Samantha Downing’s My Lovely Wife, Lucy Clarke’s You Let Me In and Linda Green’s The Last Thing She Told Me.
The Missing Wife by Sam Carrington was published in paperback by Avon Books on 27 June 2019. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review and who invited me to take part on this Blog Tour
I've read and enjoyed all of Sam Carrington's previous novels so had been looking forward to The Missing Wife very much.
I have not been disappointed and read this in almost one sitting; I was absolutely hooked by the short but shocking prologue that sets the scene for what becomes a compelling and cleverly written story with twists that I certainly didn't anticipate.
Once past the prologue; the story slows down as the reader is introduced to lead character Louisa.
Louisa is having a difficult time; she's approaching forty and is mother to a very small baby. She really had thought that she'd left the days of dirty nappies and sleep deprivation behind as her first child Emily is now a teen, but along came baby Noah and put paid to all of that.
Not only is Laura's life quite difficult, but she can be a character who is difficult to like. I understand the raging hormones and the lack of sleep, but there's something that it's hard to put a finger on about her. However, this is testament to the author's skill in creating characters, because whilst I wasn't the biggest fan of Louisa, I was totally invested in her story.
I could have cried for the poor woman as she's offered a night in a nearby hotel, with her best mate, without the kids, so that she can sleep. The pulling power of that offer to Louise was palpable, but the reality was that it was a screen for a surprise birthday party. Thrown by her mate and her husband and the guest list is made up of the whole of Louisa's Facebook friends list. A recipe for disaster? Yes, I think so, and so does Louisa.
The Missing Wife of the title is the new wife of Louisa's first boyfriend, Oliver. They've not seen each other for over twenty years, yet here is is, all of a sudden best friends with her husband and seemingly becoming part of the fixtures and fittings in her life. There are secrets between them though, and the reader is never really quite sure who to trust here. I suspected everyone at some point during the story.
The author cleverly explores the psychological effects of new motherhood on an older woman, and builds the plot slowly and surely. The latter part of the story seems to go off like a speeding bullet, in stark contrast to the beginning and the pace of the action leaves the reader quite breathless.
It's clever and unexpected and I really enjoyed getting to know these, on the whole, not so nice characters. Sam Carrington's best book to date, without a doubt. Recommended for those who like a head spin of a story populated by well crafted characters.
Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband and three children. She worked for the NHS for 15 years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a Psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist.
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