Title: The Wife List
Author: J. A. Schneider
Publisher: J.A. S.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Wife List" by J.A. Schneider

My Sentiments:

All that's left to say is this author has done it again, and that was giving the readers another good psychological thriller. Beth seems to be having trouble with a troubled marriage, and while this is going on, all kinds of tragedy come forth from her best friend Annie, who was also her agent, being murdered. Beth and Brad thought moving out of the large city of New York to Sheffield [suburbs] by getting away from crime and its dreadfulness would help their lives...but did it? The story has fascinating and well-developed characters that will keep one's attention from chapter to chapter. Yes, this is a long read but still a good one till the end. In the end, a story of just who you can trust. ( )

I love the cover, but it was the title, The Wife List by J A Schneider, that had me so curious. My mind started working. Was it going to be the wives that are the victims? Was it going to be the wives that are the badasses, taking out the bad guys. Oh yeah, I was ready to dive in and begin reading almost as soon as I had it on my ereader.

J A Schneider sure can pen a mystery/suspense thriller. It may have seemed a bit slow at times, sharing her thoughts, fears, and the danger that surrounded Beth Kemp, especially being she was asthmatic. The Wife List takes place as the pandemic is ending, people trying to go back to normal. Restaurants are open, but not many patrons are out. Trash and the homeless litter (I know that is a terrible word to apply to people, but I find the description applicable) the streets. Danger, murder, theft, muggings are especially dangerous for Beth Kemp. Stress and anxiety exacerbate her asthma. She never goes anywhere without her inhalers.

People are dying around her. Her father, then her agent. Beth and her husband, Brad, are successful crime writers. He talks her into moving from New York to Connecticut. Hmmm…all my spidey senses start tingling. I’m not paranoid, I just think everybody’s out to get her. LOL Does it make her paranoid when she sees her friend being abused, her neighbor being murdered? and her husband…and his friends…putting her on edge? Does she need psychiatric help?

This psychological thriller had me bouncing around, thinking I knew what was coming…But, then, something would happen. Like Beth, I wondered if I was seeing villains everywhere I looked? Are they out to get me…I mean her. LOL Was she being gaslighted? Was she being framed? I loved that the twists and turns kept me on my toes, making The Wife List by J A Schneider an unputdownable read.

There is so much more that I want to share, but I am not going to spoil anything for anyone. If you love mysteries, suspense and thrills, jumping at the creaky floor and murmuring voices, then The Wife List by J A Schneider is for you. I loved it so much, I immediately grabbed Cry To Me and Kate Warne’s Sister Is Missing.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Wife List by J A Schneider.

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Review of eBook

Having reached, after four years, a particularly rough patch in her whirlwind marriage, Beth Kemp wonders if there is any way to repair it. Perhaps, she muses, writers should not marry writers . . . while she is realizing success, her husband’s last two books flopped.

But Brad apologizes for his bad mood and, somewhat mollified, they both settle down to write. Later, Beth leaves to meet their mutual agent, Annie, for a drink and, on the way, witnesses a horrific scene as two men tussle and one pushes the other into the street . . . into the path of an oncoming truck. Horrified, asthmatic Beth struggles to find her inhaler in her purse as a crowd gathers at the accident scene.

But the evening holds more unspeakable horror. Perhaps that move to the country that Brad wants so badly is a good idea, even for a city girl. After all, Sheffield isn’t THAT far away from New York City.

But it isn’t long before Beth discovers that leaving the city for the idyllic environs of Connecticut does not mean leaving the horrors behind.

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With its well-drawn, believable characters and a plot that delights in taking unexpected twists, a multitude of surprises await the reader. As the story unfolds, Beth’s emotional stability seems to be in question; readers are sure to find themselves feeling her frustrations and her suspicions as they keep turning those pages to see what happens next.

Pulling readers into the telling of the tale from the outset, this captivating domestic thriller keeps readers guessing right up to the unexpected denouement that is sure to surprise.

Highly recommended.

I received a free advance review copy of this book through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )

New to me author, but she’s now on my radar and I look forward to reading more!

Beth is a successful crime writer. Her husband, Brad, is also an author but his latest books are lacking. Her whirlwind marriage has taken a downward spiral along, and she’s had some devastating losses thanks to NYC crime. Brad talks her into moving to an idyllic community in Connecticut, due to Beth’s stress bringing on her asthma. But can there be something sinister in Brad’s wanting to move there? Is Beth being Paranoid? Intuitive? Vivid Writer’s imagination? It seems like wives are turning up dead…will she be next?

I didn’t expect to be sucked into reading late into the night and thru the next day, but that’s what happened. Fast paced, with some twists and turns to keep you guessing. Then when you’re sure you know, do you really? Well written characters with depth. I did think the love interest happened too quickly was a little too good to be true. A solid thriller that will hold your attention.

I received an ARC of this book. Opinion is mine alone. ( )