The Other Mrs.

Mary Kubica knows how to write a thriller and this book definitely proves it! Sadie and her family move from Chicago to a rural town in Maine, so the book begins with an atmosphere of darkness and mystery. Having lived in rural Maine myself for four years, I know the isolation that Sadie was feeling and was immediately drawn to and sympathized with her character. Sadie and Will have a dysfunctional family, with two young sons who have their own issues. Otto, the older son, is a hot mess, with some kind of bipolar disorder and who is constantly bullied at school. The fresh start that this move was supposed to give the family just didn’t work for them too great, especially since a neighbor, Morgan Barnes, was found dead in her home shortly after their arrival. Police Officer Berg, an officer who seems overwhelmed by having to investigate a murder in this small town, suspects Sadie is the murderer. But all is not as it seems…not by a long shot! That is what Mary Kubica is so good at doing in her craft; she writes a book that has so many twists that it is meant to fool you, leading you down false and real rabbit trails. Kubica is a master at writing books that are so weirdly twisted that they actually work for the readers! The underlying themes of mental illness and secrecy in a small town and a family make the book a compelling read for fans of psychological and domestic thrillers.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publsiher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positve review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

4 ½ stars rounded down to 4 because of some believability issues, but it’s great entertainment.

This was a fast paced, quick read that had a deeper plot than I thought when I began the book. I have read Ms.Kubica before and I knew I was in for a good ride!

From the blurb for the book you will know this : “Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor, Morgan Baines, is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie, who is terrified by the thought of a killer in her very own backyard.

But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. It’s their eerie old home, with its decrepit decor and creepy attic, which they inherited from Will’s sister after she died unexpectedly. It’s Will’s disturbed teenage niece Imogen, with her dark and threatening presence. And it’s the troubling past that continues to wear at the seams of their family”

I really enjoyed that blurb because it doesn’t give anything away about the “real” threads that are running through this story.

Sadie never wanted to move to Maine, she’s a city girl, she enjoyed the fast pace of the Chicago hospital Emergency Room. Here she is left to deal with the mundane, flu, arthritis, sprains and breaks. But she’s willing to put up with living in the creepy house with the almost silent, often foul mouthed teen who goes along with the inheritance. Anything for a fresh start.

Sadie worries about her oldest son, Otto, who has a history of being bullied. He just never seems to fit in anywhere. Her youngest son, Tate, seems to love it so far, the freedom of running with his dogs in the backyard, his new school, he is adapting well.

Sadie still hasn’t forgiven Will for the affair that he admitted to before they left Chicago, they have an icy relationship. She still cringes at his touches even though he seems to be doing all he can to make this new move work. He is a professor with limited classes to teach so he is basically the “stay at home dad” ferrying their young son Tate to and from classes and being there to cook, clean, etc so Sadie can come home to a quiet house and a warm dinner.

The murder of their neighbor Morgan, whom Sadie hasn’t met throws everyone in the family and their small town into a frenzy. Will knew her from talking to her in the neighborhood. There are some conflicting stories from their neighbors however, they seem to feel that Sadie did know Morgan, that they saw them fighting when they were outside. Sadie denies this vehemently.

When talking about the murder Sadie says to Will as they are watching Jeffrey Baines returning home from abroad “Do you think he did it” ….. When Will doesn’t answer my question, I hear myself mutter, “It’s always the husband”. This time his reply is quick “He was out of the country Sadie. Why would you think he had anything to do with this?” “It’s just, if you watch the news long enough, that’s the way it seems to be. Unhappy husbands kill their wives.”

I will leave you to ponder that. Don’t worry it’s not a spoiler because the truth is something you will never guess, well at least I didn’t.

So many questions, lots of red herrings (I missed some) and by 25% into the story I was completely hooked.

Pick up this thriller that gets it all right, you won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.

Darkly disturbingly twisted. The house and the weather and location all play roles in the overall story. Told from various points of view, you will in turns feel compassion for and fear from and about each character.
Bad things happened in Chicago which lead to the family moving to Maine, as well as the fact that Will’s sister died. Along with her family home they inherited her non-social daughter with deep, dark, DISTURBING issues of her own. Will Sadie and Will’s children have a positive effect on her, despite their own troubles, or will Imogen drag them into her own dark world?

With a murder happening within days of the family’s arrival and conflicting testimony and evidence from observers, plus weird behaviors on Sadie’s part… don’t read this in a dark house when you are alone.

Awesome, awesome, awesome! A perfect and creepy fall thriller. This story starts out with Sadie and Will moving to a small coastal island in Maine, where murder and killers on the run are not the norm. Eerie old homes and characters surrounded by mysterious circumstances and death are sure to give you the creeps. I loved this book and all of the twists and turns it contained. Another good one by Mary Kubica that will keep you turning the pages!

Mary Kubica writes another riveting novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very last page. The plot is well built and delivered meticulously through dynamic characterization and narrative shifts. The subject matter is dark and may be a trigger for some readers but Kubica does well to deliver it in a gracious manner. The book was hard to put down as it was taught with intrigue and suspense. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheOtherMrs which I read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.