His First Wife

by Sue Watson

My perfect man is married. And his wife is missing. Can I really trust him—or am I next?

Sophie wasn’t expecting to find love in Sicily. But then she sees Emilio, a professor who works at the university where she is teaching for the summer. He’s kind, intelligent, funny, exciting and deliriously unpredictable…

…maybe perfect.

But paradise quickly turns to purgatory as she uncovers the haunting disappearance of Emilio’s first wife. And when she senses a shadowy character following her, watching her every move, Sophie starts to question her grip on reality. Is she being paranoid, or is nothing about her new life really what it seems?

As further shocking revelations about Emilio’s past surface, Sophie knows one thing for someone is trying to warn her away from him. But is that someone just jealous, or is Sophie caught in a lethal trap?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2025

About the author

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has sold almost 2 million books and explores the darker side of life, writing psychological thrillers with big twists. Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.
For up-to-date offers and news of Sue's latest books, click the 'Follow' button next to her photo on Amazon.

Sue would love to meet you on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/suewatsonbooks
And on Instagram @suewatsonbooks

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

His First Wife is a shorter read, which honestly worked in its favor—I appreciated the quick pace. The characters stirred up a mix of emotions in me, which is always a sign that a story has something going for it.

Sophie, though... whew. I found her frustratingly naïve. More than once, I wanted to reach into the pages and give her a good shake. Her insecurity made it hard for me to really connect with her, even though I was intrigued by the secret she was keeping. That twist added some much-needed intrigue.

But then there’s Emilio. One minute Sophia’s falling head over heels, the next she’s throwing accusations of him keeping secrets, even though she is doing the same. The back-and-forth felt a bit condescending and repetitive, which took me out of the story at times.

Abby, the stalker-ish friend, kept me guessing right from the start. She added a mysterious edge that kept me turning the pages, just to see how her part of the story would unfold.

All in all, this wasn’t a groundbreaking read, but it wasn’t a waste of time either. A solid in-between book when you’re in the mood for some drama and secrets without a huge time commitment.

Thanks to NetGalley and all the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Francesca (pavisfrancesca) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 This was a very easy to read simple vacation gone wrong style thriller with a very small character pool to keep track of. Love the setting of Sicily and the foreboding vibe of Mount Etna.

However, I did think I’ll email main character was very naive and made some stupid decisions to end up in these situations 🤣

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Sue Watson created a thriller I couldn’t put down. I was constantly reading at every single opportunity. This atmospheric story was full of intrigue and eerie moments that were chilling and unexpected. The author said that she drew inspiration from Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and the vibes of that mesmerizing tale came across brilliantly. The main character evoked emotion ranging from concern to frustration. I always appreciate when a thriller is intense with emotion and suspense. I was hooked from start to finish. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas &Mercer for my copy.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the readalong hosted by Tandem Collective UK.

His First Wife is the first book by Sue Watson and was a great introduction to her books. We follow Sophie, who's run from her past to Sicily to work as an art teacher.
She wasn't expecting to find love again but ended up falling head over heels for Emilio.
Sophies English friend seems very against the pairing and when Sophie begins being watched and followed by someone at night and then she discovers Emilio is married and things between him and his wife don't seem to add up, she begins to spiral and doesn't know who she can trust or turn to.
This was a quick and easy to read perfect for holiday reading, and though I did guess part of the ending, I did still enjoy the story.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could a book be more topical? With Etna erupting and the scenes shown on the news and social media it made imagining this book set in Taoranina, in the foothills of Etna and the characters, sights and sounds therein even more poignant and real

The book though is pure psychological thriller, a woman who falls for a man who obviously has a hidden agenda…..a mysterious first wife, an even more mysterious Sister In Law and a ( fav character for me ) stalkerish if not well meaning neighbour/best friend who is intent on making her feelings, on any situation, known, loudly 😀

You never quite know who you can trust or who is being honest, naïve, crafty, nasty or friendly and until the ending, which is 2 fold, I kept changing my mind

Sue Watson writes a great thriller and this is that bit different set where it is however the tension and suspense is what we have come to expect from the authors books

Great read

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Sue Watson and usually love her books, but His First Wife wasn’t my favorite. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and found some of their actions hard to believe in the beginning of the book. But then once I got into it about 1/2 of the way in, it picked up speed. That said, the writing was still engaging and the story kept me curious enough to see how it would end. I’m really looking forward to many more books by this talented author. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published June 13, 2025.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 2 out of 5]

"𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒐," 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒆.
"𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚? 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

I am a big fan of this author, but her last few books have felt off. My two biggest issues with this book were with the MC and the dialogue. The MC was so terribly naive, desperate, and well, just stupid. I couldn't muster much pity for her and the predicament that she created entirely of her own volition. The dialogue was incredibly cringey and added nothing to the narrative.

The setting, however, was something truly stunning. The story centered mostly around Sicily with a little bit of regional folklore thrown in. I would have loved to see that developed more.

While this one was a miss for me, I'm sure readers who want a quick popcorn thriller will enjoy this one. Fingers crossed the next one is a win! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for the early copy. Look for this one on June 13, 2025.

[Hannah Bugey]

Dnf at 59%. First of all the fmc is so naive. She finds out her boyfriend has been lying about something major and goes right back to him. She was so naive and getting on my nerves. This was supposed to be a thriller but was boring and repetitive. We never got to the point. So that’s why I couldn’t force myself to finish this. Sorry for anyone who liked this book.

[Danielle B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading Sue Watson's books since 2018 and I have to say, HIS FIRST WIFE is one of her best works to date. The story grabbed my attention from the start. I liked that it took place in Italy and that were a lot of secrets throughout the story. The narration was perfection. Sometimes that can alter the story for me, but this narrator did not. I didn't know what or who to believe and when I got to the ending I was really surprised. If you want a fun thriller to listen to, don't hesitate and grab this audiobook on release day!

Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication day.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 16%

[Summer Bendle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. It really kept me guessing. The way everything unfolds makes this book well written. I liked this one.

[Sophie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

fairly easy to read destination thriller 🍋👏
Got better in the second half as the weird teenage crush style of writing matured 😂

[Diane Dachota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisty thriller set in the shadow of Mount Etna in Sicily. The author said this was inspired by the novel "Rebecca" and it has a touch of that story about a wife that hovers over the life of the new woman on the scene. Sophie is British and arrived in Sicily to teach art after the death of her husband. Sophie is very naive and also paranoid at times which sometimes made it hard to root for her. Once she see volcanology professor Emilio, it is love at first sight and despite her neighbor Abbi's request for caution, she goes all in on a romance with the handsome Emilio.

Emilio is intelligent and sweet, but also hard to pin down and often late or missing for dates. When he takes Sophie to his luxury home for a date, she finds out he is still married and his annoying sister in-law is hanging out in the house, ready to cause trouble. Emilio's wife Gina is away studying volcanos in Hawaii, but Sophie sees her everywhere in the house where her portraits line the walls and she can smell her perfume in every room. Emilio tells Sophie he and Gina are divorcing but she won't return home to sign the papers.

The mystery portion starts with a strange person smoking on a balcony across from Sophie and the feeling she is being followed, and the fact that Gina appears to be missing .Gina's sister implies that Emilio has done something to her sister so he can inherit her fortune. Sophie doesn't know who to believe as she tries to navigate her new relationship with Emilio even as he is treated like a suspect by the police and those around her. I found the interplay between the various characters interesting but the best part of the book was the descriptions of Sicily and the volcano as a backdrop. I especially enjoyed the scenes in Taormina where the ash, grayness and stillness are everywhere, making Sophie feel trapped. . The ending surprised me! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for review.

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like a 2.6. This fmc annoyed me soooooooooo bad!!!! And so did the mmc. Like dude you guys both kinda suck. But it was a quick read and pretty predictable. Not sure if I would recommend.

[Sarah Elizabeth Schiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew, this book had me side-eyeing every charming man with a mysterious past! His First Wife serves up a tall glass of red flags with a side of Sicilian sunshine. Emilio? Gorgeous. Smart. Intense. Absolutely the type you should run from in the first five pages.


Sophie, girl… I wanted to shake you. I get it—vacation romance and all—but when the "perfect man" has a missing wife and people start warning you off him like he’s a walking true crime podcast? Maybe listen.


Sue Watson kept the suspense sizzling with just enough twists to make me question everyone—including Sophie herself. It’s fast, addictive, and the ending made me gasp out loud. If you're in the mood for a psychological thriller with Mediterranean vibes, grab this one.


Thank you Sue Watson, Brilliance Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!


#hisfirstwife #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

HIS FIRST WIFE BY SUE WATSON.
Release day set for the 13th of June 2025.
I have read a few Sue Watson books now and this one was just as good as the others I've read.
His first wife grabs your attention from the very beginning and is a very easy read throughout.
Really enjoyed it and look forward to the next one

[Jerricka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good thriller

[Kaysie Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was suspenseful with a slow unraveling and little plot twists sprinkled throughout the book. 🤩 I enjoyed the mystery and the misleading characters. The narration was great as well. 😊

[Shannon Mabrito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do I even start?

*The plot sounded wonderful...but it is massively deceiving. It follows it closely, but Emilio is a horrible character. He isn't honest, or run, or whatever else the description called him. He is self-centered, cares only for himself and is often late to doing things with our MFC, Sophie.

Then there IS Sophie: the entire time, I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes through her narrations. While she is 36 years old, her characters reads more closely to someone in their late teens or early 20s, just making it in life and putting trust into someone almost the second that they meet. It's easy to get swept up in a new relationship, especially with someone handsome like Emilio, BUT she is too trusting in the beginning when nearly everyone around her is telling her to proceed with caution.
Then we have secondary characters like Sabrina and Abbi. With Sabrina, if I had to hear her use the word "queen" one more time, I was going to turn it into a drinking game. NOBODY actually talks like this in person. I don't go around calling my friends "queen" every time my mouth opens. Have I used this phrase? Absolutely, yes. But, it just got old very quickly. And Abbi was just as annoying as Sophie. Overprotective, constantly trying to tell Sophie was to do and how to feel. It's normal for friends to feel protective of each other, but Abbi had almost a possessiveness bordering on obsession with Sophie. It was awkward, and uncomfortable to read.

Ultimately, the story did nothing for me. It took me entirely way too long to read because I would just get through a chapter or two and have to take a break from reading Sophie's horrible inner and outer monologues.

I gave it 2 stars, because we do get an ending (sort of...) but otherwise, this one was nearly a DNF for me and should have really only gotten one star. If this type of book is right up your alley, more power to you. Otherwise, I'd highly recommend skipping this one altogether.

[Jodi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously, a horrible book. I don’t know why I read it because I could tell on page one I already hated it. Whiny people, the same details spinning around and around and around, once I got near the end, I couldn’t believe it kept going. I just wanted it over with so badly. Blah

[Briony B (BE) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. The plot line felt very simple and incredibly convenient at times. A frustrating read.

[Beth Reads Crime]

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A review by you!
His First Wife by Sue Watson
slow-paced
2.75

Set against the beautiful yet slightly dangerous backdrop of Sicily, His First Wife is a destination thriller with a delicious dose of domestic suspense. The story follows Sophie, who’s embarking on a new relationship with the charming yet mysterious Emilio, but of course, things are not quite as idyllic as they first seem.

The set-up is a little slower than I expected, especially considering what’s teased in the title and blurb. However, once the pieces start falling into place, the pace really ramps up. The second half is full of tension, twists and satisfying reveals.

There are several threads woven through the plot, which means you’re constantly questioning who to trust, what’s really going on and whether everyone is telling the truth. I definitely found myself second-guessing things right until the very end!

[Charlie Morris (Read, Watch & Drink Coffee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's nothing better in the summer months than a thriller that transports you to another country, and His First Wife definitely does that!

Set in Sicily, this is the perfect setting for a thriller. The heat is exhausting, Mount Etna is bubbling away in the background, and there are many deserted areas where people can go missing.

This book played on some of my least favourite thriller tropes, most notably a gullible female who doesn't ask enough questions, so I personally found Sophie very annoying. But others will appreciate how her naivety adds to the mystery. Because has she put herself in this situation? Or is it somebody else's doing?

There are definitely many questions that needs answers. From Emilio's missing wife, a watcher in the dark, a complaint at school, and various characters who seem to be too involved, you certainly suspect everyone!

The twists are very clever and overall it's a very satisfying domestic thriller with a couple of darker moments. Great for a read in the sun!

[Sharon Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk for having me on this readalong.

From the beginning this book will grip you and you won't be able to put it down.

Sophie has come to Italy away from the UK to escape her past that we are not 100 % certainly of what has happened. She falls for a guy called Emilio who she falls for very quickly but things are not as simple as she thinks. He is married. her friend abbi is a little strange and warns her off Emilio but does she take any notice. A lot of spooky things then start happening to her and she thinks she is being followed and watched by someone in an apartment over the road. As time moves on are people who we really think they are. Where is Gina Emilios wife and why is sabrina her sister always around and who is out to ruin Sophie life???

I got half way though and could not put it down I felt nearly everyone was suspect and could not work out who to belive but I did not see the ending coming.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a bereavement Sophie heads to Sicily to take up an art teaching job. There she meets the enigmatic professor Emilio and its love at first sight.. But her overpowering friend and neighbour discovers that Emilio is married. Emilio tells her he and Gina are separated but can she believe him, especially when it evolves that Gina is missing.
In true Sue Watson style this book takes you on a journey of mistrust and secrets. Every character has their secrets and these are drip fed in such a way that you don't know who to trust or believe. If you like a book with strong characters and twists and turns, you're sure to love this novel.

[iqra 🫧❤️‍🔥 · Rating 3 out of 5]

#AD PR PRODUCT

This was an interesting ish read. The chapters and story was fast paced. Which was good and helpful BUT it wasn’t that engaging for me

It had some elements of intrigue as such and laid in between thriller and mystery

But all the characters were rather annoying or naive (especially the main character) her “secret” that’s hinted throughout the book wasn’t ground shattering. It felt more built up than anything.

Yah the twist or reveal was okay, but it just all felt very anticlimactic

Throughout the book, the theme of danger felt over used and exaggerated and didn’t quite live up to it.

But still an okay read

@AmazonPublishing @TandemCollectiveUK
@SueWatsonBooks
#HisFirstWifeReadalong
#ThrillsAndChillsReaders
#TandemReadalong

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie is single and living in Sicily and the last thing she is expecting is to find love. It is then she sees Emilio who she quickly falls for. Only there seems to be strange circumstances surrounding his first and Sophie doesn’t know what to believe.

I have read a few books by this author and enjoyed them so was excited to read this one. I wasn’t sure about the writing style at first but it ended up being strangely addictive and I found I was invested in seeing what would happen next. I enjoyed the uneasy, eerie atmosphere and the Sicilian setting. There was a sense of mystery running throughout the story.

The characters were intriguing, although many were unlikeable and hugely frustrating. The story has quite a few twists and turns, although I did predict the main twist. This was a fun, entertaining thriller overall and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[Hannah Boyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun lil read! I must admit that I preferred the second half of this book to the first half, so if this isn’t an instant hit for you, definitely try to hold on! I feel like this would be a fun holiday read tbh, it’s the perfect length too. The book was a nice and easy read, I thought the storyline was fun. I just feel like a lot of it would’ve been less dramatic if the characters were just able to communicate, although I guess that’s less fun, but my autistic brain dislikes how easy it is to poke holes in the story!

[Caitlin Bunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick and easy read, I found it easy to follow and found it familiar to other books I’ve read with the same premise. This wasn’t really anything new hence the lower rating, I wouldn’t say you would be shocked when reading this one as it is quite obvious in places what’s going to happen. Not a bad read if you have some free time and just fancy a book that you don’t necessarily have to pay much attention to.

[Sophia Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

My perfect man is married. And his wife is missing. Can I really trust him—or am I next?