The Wives by Tarryn Fisher @HarlequinBooks @HarperCollinsCa

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher is out December 30 and if you are looking for something different, twisted and shocking that just might horrify you, this is a must read!!

Brenda’s review

Shocking or shamelessly manipulative, I am not sure which one but it was one fun, dark and twisted read even for this dark and twisted reader.  I think this picky twisted reader might be mellowing out a little here with things that hit a nerve for me. I think Tarryn Fisher might have played into that by kicking it up a notch here with the dark and horrifying behavior.  I think Norma might be picking up some of my pickiness because it seemed to hit a nerve with her and she was left feeling a bit differently here from Lindsay and I.

The Wives started off more of lighter easy read for me and I thought I was in for a smooth, fast read, well, well things took quite the turn halfway and turned quite twisted. I was horrified by the turn it took but couldn’t stop reading it.   I feel like in the past this would have been one that might have upset me a bit, but instead, it was Norma who was. While we were discussing this one, she sounded like me and I sounded like her. Is that a sister thing?   Even though the twisted part of me was on alert and I thought something seemed a little odd, I was shocked by the turn the story took. At times it felt manipulative and that added a little fun to the dark here in this story.

After that halfway mark, I couldn’t put this one down and I was hiding in different places in the house to read it when I was supposed to be getting ready for Christmas dinner.  The ending is something to talk about and we couldn’t wait to talk about it. I was left shocked and feeling where did that come from. Were there clues to see that coming? I am not sure there was and I decided I didn’t really care.  

Compulsively readable, mind distorting, & ultimately a train wreck!

THE WIVES by TARRYN FISHER is an engaging, fast-paced, dark, gritty, and twisty thriller that had quite the bizarre, intriguing and original premise to it. I was immediately sucked into the story and could not put this book down for the first half of the story. The first half was absolutely unputdownable and had my full attention and then around the 50% mark my attention started to wane a little bit and then well the ending happened, which I wasn’t all that fond of.

I really have this pet-peeve when I feel like certain aspects of the story is deliberately omitted for shock value purposes rather than well-layering and guiding us there. There were also some aspects to the story that really hit a nerve and I thought the author shouldn’t have used certain themes as plot devices and points. I could have totally missed this but I think even the character’s name was deliberately omitted in the beginning to use as a plot device.

I definitely empathize with our main character here and was definitely rooting for her for the most part anyway, even though I had a few issues with her actions and reactions. At times I totally felt for her and at other times I was totally flabbergasted by her. It was definitely one tumultuous, wacky and wild ride!

Addictive and edgy! Gripping and shocking! Thrillingly unputdownable!!!!

This book had me hooked from start to finish – I literally couldn’t put it down. The plot is so unique and engrossing, I found myself in a constant state of curiosity and shock. I was absorbed deep within these characters lives, questioning their situations and decisions. I couldn’t figure out who to believe – my thoughts flip flopped from one chapter to the next. The narrative was brilliantly executed – I loved the way the plot unfolded. I was completely invested in the storyline.

There were plot points near the end that headed toward unrealistic territory, yet the writing had me addicted and fully engrossed in finding out how things would come together – I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. The pace is quick and the flow is seamless. I loved this twisty and thrilling journey!

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Suspenseful, vanishing, mysterious, intriguing, and a great representation to storyline. I definitely find this cover quite appealing!
Title: A simple, intriguing, effective, and fitting representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Easy to follow, entertaining, suspenseful, engaging and compulsively readable.
Plot: Dark, twisted, disturbing, uncomfortable, edgy, bizarre, interesting, fast-paced, twisty, entertaining, and ultimately ridiculous.
Ending: An unsatisfying twist ending. I think the ending was a little over the top and could have been better executed and developed. I think it’s going to be a case of you either love it or hate it! I’d love to hear what camp you ended up in!!
Overall: I don’t think this was a terrible book by no means and for the most part it was an absolutely unputdownable gripping read. Go ahead and take this one for a ride! Hopefully it’s a wild and thrilling one for you right up until the very end!!

Thank you so much to Harlequin / Graydon House for kindly sending us a copy of this book!