THE REPLACEMENT WIFE by Darby Kane

 

The #1 International bestselling author of Pretty Little Wife returns with another thrilling domestic suspense novel that asks, how many wives and girlfriends need to disappear before your family notices?

Elisa Wright is a mom and wife, living a nice, quiet life in a nice, quiet town. She’s also convinced her brother-in-law is a murderer. Josh has one dead wife and one missing fiancée, and though he grieved for them he starts dating someone new. Elisa fears for that woman’s safety, and she desperately wants to know what happened to her friend, Josh’s missing fiancée.

Searching for clues means investigating her own family. And she doesn’t like what she finds. A laptop filled with incriminating information. Other women.

But when Elisa becomes friends with Josh’s new girlfriend and starts to question things she thinks are true, Elisa wonders if the memories of a horrible incident a year ago have finally pushed her over the edge and Josh is really innocent. With so much at stake, Elisa fights off panic attacks and a strange illness. Is it a breakdown or something more? The race is on to get to the truth before another disappearance because there’s a killer in the family…or is there?

MY THOUGHTS

This is a great book. It has all the things you want in a thriller. The edge of your seat and the wonderment of who did what. It's one that will keep you wanting more. 

This book takes you into the life of a woman who already has trauma in her life. Already feels like her life is out of control in many ways. Elisa is married to the love of her life and has a young son who makes her life complete. But all is not well. There are many unanswered questions in this family. Starting with Harris's younger brother Josh. Harris is Elisa's husband. Nathan is their son. Josh is, well, Josh... 

Josh was engaged to Abby. Abby disappeared. Elisa wants answers. Her friend would not have just left without saying something to her. At least a goodbye. Especially after what Elisa had already been through. She just wouldn't. Josh is quite questionable about his relationships. He's been married twice already and both ended badly. Then he announces that he's seeing another woman when Abby has only been gone for a short time. What has Josh done? Has he committed the worse crime imaginable or has Abby really just up and left of her own free will. And why is her terrorizing Elisa who he claims to love like a sister. Of course she is trying to find out what happened and he may not want anyone to know. And exactly who is the new woman in his life. Rachel? What part if any does she play into this story?

This book takes you into the lives of these people. You will get to know each of them. You will have many guesses as to what happened and who did what. Then you will guess again. It's well laid out. Well written. Makes you feel like you are there. Whether getting up in the middle of the night to freezing cold or sitting on the steps waiting for your husband to return. You feel it. It made me hold my breath in several places. I guessed quite a few times and about one character I was right. But that did not take away from this story. Then you have an ending that will make you gasp. I certainly didn't see it coming. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, #DarbyKane, #WilliamMorrowandCustomHousepublishers for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

4/5 stars and a very high recommendation. Don't miss this one.