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The Hidden Wife
WHAT HAPPENED TO JULIA BLAKE?
She was young and beautiful, married to a famous author. They were celebrating their anniversary at their stunning country estate. So why did Julia Blake walk out of her perfect life, apparently leaving no trace?
Seren, a junior reporter for the local paper, can't believe her luck when she lands an exclusive with Julia's husband, Max. But as Seren spends more time at the couple's remote mansion, probing ever deeper into the case, dark questions await.
What was Julia really like, behind closed doors? Was her marriage to this brooding, secretive man as perfect as it seemed? And did she really mean to disappear that night - or was she murdered?
She was young and beautiful, married to a famous author. They were celebrating their anniversary at their stunning country estate. So why did Julia Blake walk out of her perfect life, apparently leaving no trace?
Seren, a junior reporter for the local paper, can't believe her luck when she lands an exclusive with Julia's husband, Max. But as Seren spends more time at the couple's remote mansion, probing ever deeper into the case, dark questions await.
What was Julia really like, behind closed doors? Was her marriage to this brooding, secretive man as perfect as it seemed? And did she really mean to disappear that night - or was she murdered?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2019
17 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Reynolds
5 books68 followersAmanda Reynolds’ debut novel, Close To Me, published in 2017 by Headline, was adapted by NENT Studios UK as a major six-part TV series starring Connie Nielsen and Christopher Eccleston. The series aired in 2021, on Channel 4 in the UK and on Sundance AMC in the US, as well as many other countries worldwide.
She is the author of six psychological suspense novels and is an author coach at The Novelry.
Amanda Reynolds lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their dog.
She is the author of six psychological suspense novels and is an author coach at The Novelry.
Amanda Reynolds lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 8, 2019
I really didn’t like this book at all. I’m surprised I even finished it. I did have to skim quite a lot of pages at the end as it was just so boring and underwhelming. It started off ok at the start but went rapidly down hill. I didn’t like any of the characters and didn’t care what happened to Julia. The ending was a massive anticlimax and I’m so glad I’ve finished it. I definitely don’t recommend this book.
March 31, 2019
Junior Reporter Seren can't believe her luck when she lands an exclusive with famous author Max Blake. The brooding,secretive man has been a virtual recluse since his young,beautiful wife Julia vanished on the night of their wedding anniversary. But as Seren spends more time at the couple's remote mansion,she finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into the case but finding she is uncovering more questions than answers.
Why did Julia Blake walk out on her seemingly perfect life? Did she really mean to disappear - or was she murdered?
The Hidden Wife has all the elements that readers want in a mystery/thriller. A feisty but at times very naive heroine,a brooding but also at times charming possible murderer,a missing wife,a ferociously loyal P.A and a beautiful but isolated setting. Although the story is mainly about what happened to Julia,there is also the added mysterious disappearance of a thirteen year old girl named Emily Plant. Two women missing on the same night,could the cases be connected? Is there a serial killer stalking the isolated country roads? To begin with I didn't like Seren (love that name,it's so unusual) that much but as the story unfolded and her back story was revealed,I began to understand her reactions to certain situations and by the end of the book,I was rooting for her to succeed in her search for the truth. Seren's younger brother Bryn disappeared when they were younger and she is currently receiving mysterious phone calls,late at night. Was her missing brother finally trying to get in contact and explain why he disappeared? My favourite characters were Seren's colourful flatmate Izzy and Miriam (Mim) Max's formidable,fiercely loyal P.A. I can't honestly say that I found Max very likeable but being an unlikable character doesn't necessarily mean he's a killer,does it? Interspersed throughout the book was chapters chronicling the police investigation into Julia's disappearance. I can't say I liked the detectives very much,yes,I know in real life that the partner of the missing person is usually the number one suspect but I thought that their investigation was frustratingly one sided and they seemed to have a very bad case of tunnel vision in regards to Max's guilt.
I loved The Hidden Wife just as much as I loved Amanda Reynold's previous books Close To Me and Lying To You. Her stories are always exceedingly well written,her words flowing with ease,drawing the reader into the wonderfully described world inhabited by her vivid,realistic characters. The Hidden Wife is a twist packed,captivating,enthralling mystery that had me hooked in from the very first page. There was some questions that were left unanswered in regards to Bryn's disappearance. Hopefully Amanda Reynold's plans to write a sequel,I would love to know what happened to Bryn and also read more of Seren's investigations.
Many thanks to Anne Carter of Random Things Tours,Amanda Reynolds,Headline and Wildfire Books for a arc of this book via Netgalley and the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
Why did Julia Blake walk out on her seemingly perfect life? Did she really mean to disappear - or was she murdered?
The Hidden Wife has all the elements that readers want in a mystery/thriller. A feisty but at times very naive heroine,a brooding but also at times charming possible murderer,a missing wife,a ferociously loyal P.A and a beautiful but isolated setting. Although the story is mainly about what happened to Julia,there is also the added mysterious disappearance of a thirteen year old girl named Emily Plant. Two women missing on the same night,could the cases be connected? Is there a serial killer stalking the isolated country roads? To begin with I didn't like Seren (love that name,it's so unusual) that much but as the story unfolded and her back story was revealed,I began to understand her reactions to certain situations and by the end of the book,I was rooting for her to succeed in her search for the truth. Seren's younger brother Bryn disappeared when they were younger and she is currently receiving mysterious phone calls,late at night. Was her missing brother finally trying to get in contact and explain why he disappeared? My favourite characters were Seren's colourful flatmate Izzy and Miriam (Mim) Max's formidable,fiercely loyal P.A. I can't honestly say that I found Max very likeable but being an unlikable character doesn't necessarily mean he's a killer,does it? Interspersed throughout the book was chapters chronicling the police investigation into Julia's disappearance. I can't say I liked the detectives very much,yes,I know in real life that the partner of the missing person is usually the number one suspect but I thought that their investigation was frustratingly one sided and they seemed to have a very bad case of tunnel vision in regards to Max's guilt.
I loved The Hidden Wife just as much as I loved Amanda Reynold's previous books Close To Me and Lying To You. Her stories are always exceedingly well written,her words flowing with ease,drawing the reader into the wonderfully described world inhabited by her vivid,realistic characters. The Hidden Wife is a twist packed,captivating,enthralling mystery that had me hooked in from the very first page. There was some questions that were left unanswered in regards to Bryn's disappearance. Hopefully Amanda Reynold's plans to write a sequel,I would love to know what happened to Bryn and also read more of Seren's investigations.
Many thanks to Anne Carter of Random Things Tours,Amanda Reynolds,Headline and Wildfire Books for a arc of this book via Netgalley and the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour
March 27, 2019
Julia is missing, presumed dead, presumed killed by her very successful and much older author husband, Max...
Enter Seren ( a name you have to look at all the way through the book and never quite settle with, I kept reading seven!!! ) who is trundling along at her local flailing paper writing stories of little consequence.....Seren has a missing brother and Max wants her to ‘write his story, show his side of things’ as he feels she will be empathetic after a piece she wrote on ‘The Missing’
And so the tale begins as Seren uncovers more and more about Julia and Max and starts to wonder if Max is guilty or indeed if Julia is alive ( alongside this the story of her missing bro pops up now and again, almost subtlety and doesn’t interfere with the main business but its a welcome change of scenery now and again )
Seren has to get through Max’s P.A./surrogate Mum who lives at Max’s mansion and with her tight perm and ferocious loyalty was one of my fav characters, woe betide anyone who she felt was ‘overstepping the mark’ into her terrority, wonderful character!
The writing style flowed well and explained itself on every page, I guess by this I mean what could have been complex wasn’t due to the authors ability to describe and update constantly ( if that makes sense?? )
Seren was occasionally ‘silly’ and you found yourself saying ‘really?,you are going to do that’!!
The ending of the book seemed to happen abruptly and was an adequate ending although I think what was meant to be shock value was fairly easy to guess as the book progressed
A well written, cohesive, plausible psychological cum adventurish book that was enjoyable and for the main intriguing
7.5/10 4 Stars
March 31, 2019
The Hidden Wife is a book based around the facades people hide their true characters behind. We learn very little about main character Julia, and I was surprised that I loved that aspect of the novel. It worked well to create tension and shows Julia Blake as a bit of an enigma. I was shocked by just how creepy and atmospheric it was and the twists and turns ensure you are hooked. Well written, with intriguing characters and a plot that has your attention from the beginning, this is an excellent domestic thriller.
From watching a multitude of crime shows I know that when a person who is married goes missing and is presumed dead the spouse is always the one suspicion falls on first, and rightly so. However, I felt that the police investigation here focused on following that line at the expense of all others. This may actually be reflective of what happens in real-world investigations, though I hope not. Secrets, lies, duplicity and deception all play a huge part in this highly entertaining plot.
Many thanks to Wildfire for an ARC.
From watching a multitude of crime shows I know that when a person who is married goes missing and is presumed dead the spouse is always the one suspicion falls on first, and rightly so. However, I felt that the police investigation here focused on following that line at the expense of all others. This may actually be reflective of what happens in real-world investigations, though I hope not. Secrets, lies, duplicity and deception all play a huge part in this highly entertaining plot.
Many thanks to Wildfire for an ARC.
May 3, 2019
Seren is a junior reporter at, ‘The Herald,’ a local paper, which no longer has a print copy and is only available online. Newly out of university, Seren was, initially, excited by her new job, but now her days are full of writing endless copy about mundane local events. Then, out of the blue, she is offered an interview with author, Max Blake.
Some months earlier, Max Blake threw a dinner party to celebrate his tenth wedding anniversary to his beautiful young wife, Julia. They were, seemingly, a couple that had it all – Max successful and wealthy, Julia throwing herself into decorating their remote, luxurious house. Seren’s boss, Theo, was there that night, when Julia Blake seemingly vanished from the face of the Earth.
This is a good, psychological thriller. I enjoyed the character of Seren – slightly naïve, but keen, and with her own, difficult background, which makes her sympathetic to Blake’s plight. However, as she begins her story, she is unsettled by Max, his rather creepy assistant, and by the guests she meets, who were there, that night. As all good thrillers do, this has its fair share of twists and turns and some good characters, as well as unexpected plot surprises.
Some months earlier, Max Blake threw a dinner party to celebrate his tenth wedding anniversary to his beautiful young wife, Julia. They were, seemingly, a couple that had it all – Max successful and wealthy, Julia throwing herself into decorating their remote, luxurious house. Seren’s boss, Theo, was there that night, when Julia Blake seemingly vanished from the face of the Earth.
This is a good, psychological thriller. I enjoyed the character of Seren – slightly naïve, but keen, and with her own, difficult background, which makes her sympathetic to Blake’s plight. However, as she begins her story, she is unsettled by Max, his rather creepy assistant, and by the guests she meets, who were there, that night. As all good thrillers do, this has its fair share of twists and turns and some good characters, as well as unexpected plot surprises.
May 20, 2020
Max Blake is a famous author, but when they are celebrating their anniversary his wife goes missing . The police search Max's house for the body of his wife. When a reporter visits Max to question him about his missing wife. Max begins to feel the probing of his missing wife, is too much and asks the reporter to leave. I was convinced that Max Blake killed his wife and hid her body. Oh I love twists in fiction psychological stories and I can tell you I didn't see the twist weaving in.
October 4, 2019
The title of this book kind of gives it all away. I was really disappointed in this book, the twist was obvious from the start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
What a weird book…..
I’ve sat here for five minutes trying to summarise my thoughts to write this review and honestly I have no idea what even happened…..
I’ve sat here for five minutes trying to summarise my thoughts to write this review and honestly I have no idea what even happened…..
July 23, 2019
Junior reporter, Seren, can’t believe her luck when she’s asked to sit down for an exclusive interview with famous author Max Blake. Max’s wife, Julia, went missing nine months ago. Ever since then, Max has been living as somewhat of a recluse, hiding away in his country estate. This interview is quite the scoop for Seren and could mean a huge step up the career ladder. But the more time she spends with Max at his home, the more unsettled Seren becomes. What really happened to Julia? Did she walk away from her marriage? Or was she murdered?
Right from the start, there are so many things that tick the boxes for me. A remote mansion with various outbuildings that are hiding goodness knows what, a rich author who writes thrillers and surely knows a thing or two about hiding a body, his much MUCH younger wife who has vanished into thin air … I mean, as far as a premise goes for a mystery to be solved, it doesn’t get much better than this.
I couldn’t at all figure out what had happened to Julia. Husband Max isn’t exactly a likeable or maybe even reliable character, taking hormonal mood swings to a whole new level. All this combined naturally make him stand out as a suspect and he is the police’s main focus. And let’s not even begin to discuss his PA, Miriam, who gave me the creeps. This lovely home in this glorious setting hides a multitude of secrets, lies, deception and betrayal. The answer to the “where is Julia” question completely eluded me and Amanda Reynolds kept me guessing until the end.
Not only is Julia’s disappearance a completely mystery, Julia herself is a character we learn very little about which added that little something extra to the story. The only information we get comes from her husband, Miriam and a friend or two. But which one of those really knew her and what was she really like?
The Hidden Wife is a very atmospheric, sometimes quite claustrophobic read. Full of suspense and red herrings, this clever plot held my attention throughout. With a bunch of intriguing characters, there’s quite a bit to sink your teeth into here and that includes a rather interesting background story for Seren herself. A gripping story that once again shows you just never know what goes on behind closed doors. This is the second book I’ve read by Amanda Reynolds and I have no doubt I’ll be reading more by her in future.
Right from the start, there are so many things that tick the boxes for me. A remote mansion with various outbuildings that are hiding goodness knows what, a rich author who writes thrillers and surely knows a thing or two about hiding a body, his much MUCH younger wife who has vanished into thin air … I mean, as far as a premise goes for a mystery to be solved, it doesn’t get much better than this.
I couldn’t at all figure out what had happened to Julia. Husband Max isn’t exactly a likeable or maybe even reliable character, taking hormonal mood swings to a whole new level. All this combined naturally make him stand out as a suspect and he is the police’s main focus. And let’s not even begin to discuss his PA, Miriam, who gave me the creeps. This lovely home in this glorious setting hides a multitude of secrets, lies, deception and betrayal. The answer to the “where is Julia” question completely eluded me and Amanda Reynolds kept me guessing until the end.
Not only is Julia’s disappearance a completely mystery, Julia herself is a character we learn very little about which added that little something extra to the story. The only information we get comes from her husband, Miriam and a friend or two. But which one of those really knew her and what was she really like?
The Hidden Wife is a very atmospheric, sometimes quite claustrophobic read. Full of suspense and red herrings, this clever plot held my attention throughout. With a bunch of intriguing characters, there’s quite a bit to sink your teeth into here and that includes a rather interesting background story for Seren herself. A gripping story that once again shows you just never know what goes on behind closed doors. This is the second book I’ve read by Amanda Reynolds and I have no doubt I’ll be reading more by her in future.
September 3, 2019
I love a good hook at the start of a book and The Hidden Wife certainly has that. Not only is the first page labelled 'Thirty-Three Hours Missing' but the opening paragraph left me breathless and thirsty for more.
Max Blake's beautiful wife, Julia, has gone missing but that's not the tastiest part of the worm wriggling on the hook. Max is dishevelled and desperate as he paces his designer kitchen talking to DS Katie Ingles, but he is also lying. See what I mean about a great hook? Just what does he have to hide? Would a man with something to hide invite a reporter to interview him? It felt very cool and calculating of Max to request junior reporter, Seren, whose brother also went missing without trace, to interview him for an exclusive piece in The Herald. Add to the mix that Seren's boss, Theo, was at Max's house the night Julia went missing and we have all the ingredients for a very tasty story. There are so many facets to this story that I had all sorts of crazy ideas floating around my head. None of them were right, of course and I was completely fooled by Amanda Reynolds' dark and twisty imagination.
It's a very character driven storyline and although I was slightly disappointed that I felt rather ambivalent towards them, I do think that the characters are portrayed very well; from Max's almost bipolar moods to Seren's naivety and desperation to do a good job in the cutthroat world of journalism. Not forgetting Max's strange and creepy PA, Miriam who always seemed to be hovering in the background keeping her ever-watchful eyes on Seren. As Seren spends more time at Brooke House, I worried for her safety and that part of the story reminded me of Stephen King's Misery. Just like Misery, I think The Hidden Wife would transfer beautifully to the screen as Amanda Reynolds' words create their very own suspenseful soundtrack.
Ominous and suspenseful, there's so much going on in The Hidden Wife that it kept me guessing from start to finish, with much changing of my mind in between. The only time I admit to being wrong is when I'm reading a book but The Hidden Wife is so cleverly plotted that I don't feel ashamed to say that I would never have guessed the full story of Julia Blake's disappearance, making it an enjoyable, suspenseful and surprisingly twisty read.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Max Blake's beautiful wife, Julia, has gone missing but that's not the tastiest part of the worm wriggling on the hook. Max is dishevelled and desperate as he paces his designer kitchen talking to DS Katie Ingles, but he is also lying. See what I mean about a great hook? Just what does he have to hide? Would a man with something to hide invite a reporter to interview him? It felt very cool and calculating of Max to request junior reporter, Seren, whose brother also went missing without trace, to interview him for an exclusive piece in The Herald. Add to the mix that Seren's boss, Theo, was at Max's house the night Julia went missing and we have all the ingredients for a very tasty story. There are so many facets to this story that I had all sorts of crazy ideas floating around my head. None of them were right, of course and I was completely fooled by Amanda Reynolds' dark and twisty imagination.
It's a very character driven storyline and although I was slightly disappointed that I felt rather ambivalent towards them, I do think that the characters are portrayed very well; from Max's almost bipolar moods to Seren's naivety and desperation to do a good job in the cutthroat world of journalism. Not forgetting Max's strange and creepy PA, Miriam who always seemed to be hovering in the background keeping her ever-watchful eyes on Seren. As Seren spends more time at Brooke House, I worried for her safety and that part of the story reminded me of Stephen King's Misery. Just like Misery, I think The Hidden Wife would transfer beautifully to the screen as Amanda Reynolds' words create their very own suspenseful soundtrack.
Ominous and suspenseful, there's so much going on in The Hidden Wife that it kept me guessing from start to finish, with much changing of my mind in between. The only time I admit to being wrong is when I'm reading a book but The Hidden Wife is so cleverly plotted that I don't feel ashamed to say that I would never have guessed the full story of Julia Blake's disappearance, making it an enjoyable, suspenseful and surprisingly twisty read.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 27, 2019
Since the first page this book has intrigued me, this is a missing case, a woman has disappeared and the first suspect is the rich husband. For now nothing special, but we are not reading the investigation because it has been hang up for a while. We are reading the interview to the missing wife’s husband; trying to explain his vision of the night she disappeared.
We will have the story told between the police investigation, questioning all the suspects; and Seren’s life in first person, making the reader more connected to the story.
I really liked the main character, Seren, a young journalist with her own personal problems who feels a strange connection with the eccentric husband and his isolated big house. You can almost feel the cold in your bones whenever Seren is near Max and his helper Mim, they have a curious relation and you can sense that they are hiding something, but what? This is not the only thing concerning Seren’s life, she has been receiving some strange calls at midnight and she thinks that maybe her lost brother is trying to contact her…
I have to admit that I didn’t have any sympathy for neither Max or Julia (the suspect and his missing wife), Max seems that was giving everything to Julia, but never the “human contact” she needed or the time. And Julia felt like a spoiled egocentric girl, she only cared for herself… Of course this doesn’t justify a killing, never, but I got the impression that no one ever told them how horrible they were together!
Mim is a curious character too, you don’t like her, but you feel that she is covering her boss… from what?
As you can see there are a lot of questions to answer, I will say that you’ll have them solved in the end, with a twist, of course, but an unexpected twist that will make this book a memorable read.
I must say that I would love to read another “case” from Seren, I would like to know more about her and her story and I am sure she is the perfect journalist to interview any murder suspect!
Ready to discover The Hidden Wife?
We will have the story told between the police investigation, questioning all the suspects; and Seren’s life in first person, making the reader more connected to the story.
I really liked the main character, Seren, a young journalist with her own personal problems who feels a strange connection with the eccentric husband and his isolated big house. You can almost feel the cold in your bones whenever Seren is near Max and his helper Mim, they have a curious relation and you can sense that they are hiding something, but what? This is not the only thing concerning Seren’s life, she has been receiving some strange calls at midnight and she thinks that maybe her lost brother is trying to contact her…
I have to admit that I didn’t have any sympathy for neither Max or Julia (the suspect and his missing wife), Max seems that was giving everything to Julia, but never the “human contact” she needed or the time. And Julia felt like a spoiled egocentric girl, she only cared for herself… Of course this doesn’t justify a killing, never, but I got the impression that no one ever told them how horrible they were together!
Mim is a curious character too, you don’t like her, but you feel that she is covering her boss… from what?
As you can see there are a lot of questions to answer, I will say that you’ll have them solved in the end, with a twist, of course, but an unexpected twist that will make this book a memorable read.
I must say that I would love to read another “case” from Seren, I would like to know more about her and her story and I am sure she is the perfect journalist to interview any murder suspect!
Ready to discover The Hidden Wife?
March 31, 2019
WHAT HAPPENED TO JULIA BLAKE?
She was young and beautiful, married to a famous author. They were celebrating their anniversary at their stunning country estate. So why did Julia Blake walk out of her perfect life, apparently leaving no trace?
Seren, a junior reporter for the local paper, can't believe her luck when she lands an exclusive with Julia's husband, Max. But as Seren spends more time at the couple's remote mansion, probing ever deeper into the case, dark questions await.
What was Julia really like, behind closed doors? Was her marriage to this brooding, secretive man as perfect as it seemed? And did she really mean to disappear that night - or was she murdered?
A very good thriller that kept on me the edge till the last page.
We have lots of twists and turns in this well developed plot. It moves along very nicely at the right pace.
Well developed characters although we don't learn much about our main character Julia but to me this adds to the intrigue and tension.
Plenty of action and interesting characters, very well written thriller.
Highly recommend!
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
She was young and beautiful, married to a famous author. They were celebrating their anniversary at their stunning country estate. So why did Julia Blake walk out of her perfect life, apparently leaving no trace?
Seren, a junior reporter for the local paper, can't believe her luck when she lands an exclusive with Julia's husband, Max. But as Seren spends more time at the couple's remote mansion, probing ever deeper into the case, dark questions await.
What was Julia really like, behind closed doors? Was her marriage to this brooding, secretive man as perfect as it seemed? And did she really mean to disappear that night - or was she murdered?
A very good thriller that kept on me the edge till the last page.
We have lots of twists and turns in this well developed plot. It moves along very nicely at the right pace.
Well developed characters although we don't learn much about our main character Julia but to me this adds to the intrigue and tension.
Plenty of action and interesting characters, very well written thriller.
Highly recommend!
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2019
Julia Blake has it all, she beautiful, glamourous and married to a famous author, Max…the perfect couple.
But then on their 10th anniversary, Julia disappears…..all suspicions point to Max.
Nine months later, a local reporter, Seren writes a piece about missing family (her brothers missing)..Max reads this and thinks it’s time to speak to the press himself, to tell his side….does this secretive, moody man know more than he is letting on?
Was this a perfect marriage or was this just the public facade….who really knows what goes on behind the closed doors? But did it lead to murder?
A very cleverly plotted thriller, with realistic characters and all their flaws that builds to an unsettling, twisty mystery that will keep you guessing.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review.
But then on their 10th anniversary, Julia disappears…..all suspicions point to Max.
Nine months later, a local reporter, Seren writes a piece about missing family (her brothers missing)..Max reads this and thinks it’s time to speak to the press himself, to tell his side….does this secretive, moody man know more than he is letting on?
Was this a perfect marriage or was this just the public facade….who really knows what goes on behind the closed doors? But did it lead to murder?
A very cleverly plotted thriller, with realistic characters and all their flaws that builds to an unsettling, twisty mystery that will keep you guessing.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book and this is my honest, unbiased review.
March 27, 2019
The Hidden Wife was a solid four stars for me thanks to its tightly woven storyline and although I had guessed the outcome I was only partly right.
Max and Julia Blake live in a lovely mansion in a secluded place, Max is a well known author with money being no object and Julia is his younger wife who after a small party to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary goes missing. No body is found and nothing leads to finding out what happened. Seren is a young reporter working for the local paper and is given an exclusive interview with Max as he has asked for her personally. What really happened to Julia? Will Seren find out? Is Max guilty or not? There are a lot of twists to this thriller and I enjoyed it because of this. I didn’t like the name Seren although as a character I did. I also liked how Seren’s history was neatly interwoven with the storyline.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Max and Julia Blake live in a lovely mansion in a secluded place, Max is a well known author with money being no object and Julia is his younger wife who after a small party to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary goes missing. No body is found and nothing leads to finding out what happened. Seren is a young reporter working for the local paper and is given an exclusive interview with Max as he has asked for her personally. What really happened to Julia? Will Seren find out? Is Max guilty or not? There are a lot of twists to this thriller and I enjoyed it because of this. I didn’t like the name Seren although as a character I did. I also liked how Seren’s history was neatly interwoven with the storyline.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2019
I enjoyed this title, the writing is superb and the plot intriguing. I had no idea how the story would pan out, although I guessed from the title the wife was hiding. The only reason I'm giving four stars is because I couldn't relate at all to Seren and felt a lot of her decisions were unrealistic and I felt like shouting at her a few times. I tried to like her, but she just kept making daft choices. I enjoyed the book though, and will read more from Reynolds in future.
April 15, 2019
I love a good psychological thriller and THE HIDDEN WIFE certainly ticked all my boxes! A missing wife, a rich older husband, a young reporter, a dedicated police team and several red herrings, twist and turns along the way.
This is my first book by Amanda Reynolds, but it certainly won’t be my last – I was absolutely gripped by all the characters stories, in particular Seren, the young journalist who has been personally chosen by the elusive Max Blake to write an exclusive story about his wife’s disappearance 9 months after the event.
With her own personal demons chasing her Seren has no option but to face her painful past whilst investigating Julie Blake’s disappearance. Recommended for readers of twisty thrillers THE HIDDEN WIFE is a thoroughly addictive page-turner.
This is my first book by Amanda Reynolds, but it certainly won’t be my last – I was absolutely gripped by all the characters stories, in particular Seren, the young journalist who has been personally chosen by the elusive Max Blake to write an exclusive story about his wife’s disappearance 9 months after the event.
With her own personal demons chasing her Seren has no option but to face her painful past whilst investigating Julie Blake’s disappearance. Recommended for readers of twisty thrillers THE HIDDEN WIFE is a thoroughly addictive page-turner.
June 15, 2019
The Hidden Wife is a tense psychological thriller from Amanda Reynolds that had all the elements that I want in a fantastic mystery/thriller. Very atmospheric and with twists and turns aplenty, this was an enjoyable and engaging read. I loved Reynold's writing style, her words flowing with great ease for me, drawing me into this wonderfully portrayed story, alongside her believable and realistic characters. The Hidden Wife was a captivating and enthralling mystery that had me hooked from the very first page. Secrets, duplicity, lies and deception all played a huge part in the highly entertaining plot. A memorable read with a great ending!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Headline via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Headline via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
December 4, 2019
'She was young and beautiful, married to a successful author. They where celebrating their anniversary at their stunning country estate. So why did Julia Blake walk out of her perfect life, apparently leaving no trace?'
This is my first book by Amanda Reynolds and definitely will not be my last! Cleverly written, with likeable characters.
A quick and easy read which was beautifully written, that kept me guessing the whole way through.
This is my first book by Amanda Reynolds and definitely will not be my last! Cleverly written, with likeable characters.
A quick and easy read which was beautifully written, that kept me guessing the whole way through.
February 8, 2020
Although I enjoyed the majority of this book, I felt like the ending was really rushed and therefore, a little disappointing! I felt as though the author could have explored the relationship between Mr and Mrs Blake a little more to help justify the turn of events. I also hate to say that Seren’s back story seemed a little useless? Perhaps those chapters could have been spent exploring the Blakes’ relationship to give more understanding and power to the ending.
September 16, 2019
A mysterious disappearance of a young woman. A secluded designer house. A conflicted husband. A vulnerable young journalist. It all makes for a tense read, with characters and settings jumping from the page as fully realised reality. This is an atmospheric novel which maintains a relentless pace, as a young woman tries to work out why she has been chosen to be the exclusive reporter on a story which has been in and out of the public consciousness for months. As we get snippets of the police investigation, there is no real whisper of what has happened to the beautiful Julia Blake following a wedding anniversary party dominated by an argument. With reminders of Du Maurier’s “Rebecca” in my mind at least, Max Blake has requested the presence of Seren, a junior reporter at his impressive house recently remodelled by his absent wife. A wealthy and successful author of thrillers, it is a mystery why Max wants to reveal his story to a young woman who has previously written a short piece about the pain of missing people. Only Theo, editor of a struggling local newspaper, seems to have any inkling of why Seren has to venture to a house in an obscure spot to interview a man who seems reluctant to answer any questions on the record. This is a well constructed book, where the suggestion of danger, guilt and so many unanswered questions dominates a strong narrative. I was intrigued and fascinated to be given the opportunity to read and review this mystery thriller.
The book opens thirty - three hours after Julia’s disappearance, with Max at bay in his kitchen as Detective Sergeant Katie Ingles asks questions. Memorably we discover three things about Max “He looks like he hasn’t slept. He looks like a man desperate to find his missing wife. He looks like he’s lying”. The story of how Seren is asked by the infuriating and influential Theo to get the exclusive story of Julia’s disappearance is told by her; her confusion and determination. This book charts the visits made by Seren to the house and the contradictory way he greets her, at one moment affable host, the next frightening, possible guilty man. Julia is impressed, frightened and a little awed as Max’s wealth and the elusive Julia contrasts with her flat share and family who are left bereft by an ongoing sadness. There are moments where Julia is in some doubt as to her safety, and even more concerning the whole project, as she is forced to put everything on the line for her exclusive story. The presence of Miriam, personal assistant and questionable character adds to the confusion, as both Seren and Katie Ingles piece together who was at the fateful party, and the guilty secrets behind the glittering surface.
This is a mature and confidently written book, full of the chances and weather conditions that increase the tension of an already difficult situation. For Seren there is unresolved guilt, but for Max nothing is certain. There is the mundane details of daily life, mobile phones and cars. There is the star quality of a woman apparently given everything in life, but seemingly dissatisfied. The characters of Seren, who is after all a young woman, and Max, who seems to have much to hide, really work as characters against a background of jealousy, strife and expectation. I recommend this book to all those who enjoy a well paced thriller with a strong mystery, largely set in a very British, very well described house and grounds.
The book opens thirty - three hours after Julia’s disappearance, with Max at bay in his kitchen as Detective Sergeant Katie Ingles asks questions. Memorably we discover three things about Max “He looks like he hasn’t slept. He looks like a man desperate to find his missing wife. He looks like he’s lying”. The story of how Seren is asked by the infuriating and influential Theo to get the exclusive story of Julia’s disappearance is told by her; her confusion and determination. This book charts the visits made by Seren to the house and the contradictory way he greets her, at one moment affable host, the next frightening, possible guilty man. Julia is impressed, frightened and a little awed as Max’s wealth and the elusive Julia contrasts with her flat share and family who are left bereft by an ongoing sadness. There are moments where Julia is in some doubt as to her safety, and even more concerning the whole project, as she is forced to put everything on the line for her exclusive story. The presence of Miriam, personal assistant and questionable character adds to the confusion, as both Seren and Katie Ingles piece together who was at the fateful party, and the guilty secrets behind the glittering surface.
This is a mature and confidently written book, full of the chances and weather conditions that increase the tension of an already difficult situation. For Seren there is unresolved guilt, but for Max nothing is certain. There is the mundane details of daily life, mobile phones and cars. There is the star quality of a woman apparently given everything in life, but seemingly dissatisfied. The characters of Seren, who is after all a young woman, and Max, who seems to have much to hide, really work as characters against a background of jealousy, strife and expectation. I recommend this book to all those who enjoy a well paced thriller with a strong mystery, largely set in a very British, very well described house and grounds.
November 18, 2019
4⭐️`The Hidden Wife´ by Amanda Reynolds
This is an exciting psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. The story frame is well delineated, with carefully plotted diversions from the main storyline. This novel is basically divided into two interwoven lines of action. On one hand, there’s the police investigation narrative, which evolve around the disappearance of the wife, Julia Blake, of a famous author, Max. The main characters of this side of the story and two detectives, which we ara barely introduced, but are certainly exceptional in their jobs. What I enjoyed here is that they are not presented as fictional superheroes, but real members of the police force, because leads and hints won’t always near them to the discovery of what happened, and they deal with frustration and budget issues as elements that actually impact on any investigation. To be fair, the chapters dedicated to the DS Katie Ingles and Chris, are short and intersected along the other storyline, which we might presume is the secondary one.
9 months later we are introduced to the story of a Welsh junior journalist, Seren Spencer, who is working for the Herald. Within these chapters, she narrates in 1st person and we learn about her life and work within a working sphere that isn’t short of ego-battles and fierce competition. Her luck is about to change we she’s promised an exclusive with the secluded author, Max Blake. Everyone in the paper is suspicious of Seren’s exclusive, attributing her luck to a cheeky flirtation with chief editor Theo. But, this novel prepares you not to be so sure of your expectations and early assumptions. There are many twists and its realistic approach to every angle of the novel might leave readers guessing.
If you are hoping to have a well knotted ending, you might find yourself disappointed, this story immerses you a world of lies, deceit and unfairy-tale like diegesis. I have appreciated the author’s lack of romanticism in the story and her spotting issues from a darker and rawish angle of marriage, betrayal and the hideous fact of not knowing. Is there anything worse that not knowing….?
Have utterly enjoyed this book, it played with my expectations and its grip for stronger and stronger. The characterisation was superb. The characters are real, flawed and selfish but human. I’ll be on the watch for this author’s next thriller.
This is an exciting psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. The story frame is well delineated, with carefully plotted diversions from the main storyline. This novel is basically divided into two interwoven lines of action. On one hand, there’s the police investigation narrative, which evolve around the disappearance of the wife, Julia Blake, of a famous author, Max. The main characters of this side of the story and two detectives, which we ara barely introduced, but are certainly exceptional in their jobs. What I enjoyed here is that they are not presented as fictional superheroes, but real members of the police force, because leads and hints won’t always near them to the discovery of what happened, and they deal with frustration and budget issues as elements that actually impact on any investigation. To be fair, the chapters dedicated to the DS Katie Ingles and Chris, are short and intersected along the other storyline, which we might presume is the secondary one.
9 months later we are introduced to the story of a Welsh junior journalist, Seren Spencer, who is working for the Herald. Within these chapters, she narrates in 1st person and we learn about her life and work within a working sphere that isn’t short of ego-battles and fierce competition. Her luck is about to change we she’s promised an exclusive with the secluded author, Max Blake. Everyone in the paper is suspicious of Seren’s exclusive, attributing her luck to a cheeky flirtation with chief editor Theo. But, this novel prepares you not to be so sure of your expectations and early assumptions. There are many twists and its realistic approach to every angle of the novel might leave readers guessing.
If you are hoping to have a well knotted ending, you might find yourself disappointed, this story immerses you a world of lies, deceit and unfairy-tale like diegesis. I have appreciated the author’s lack of romanticism in the story and her spotting issues from a darker and rawish angle of marriage, betrayal and the hideous fact of not knowing. Is there anything worse that not knowing….?
Have utterly enjoyed this book, it played with my expectations and its grip for stronger and stronger. The characterisation was superb. The characters are real, flawed and selfish but human. I’ll be on the watch for this author’s next thriller.
April 13, 2019
The Hidden Wife is another twisty and a cleverly crafted psychological thriller from Amanda Reynolds, who is going from strength to strength. I really enjoyed her latest book which delves into the disappearance of the wife of a celebrity author, Max Blake, who still falls under the suspicion of the press and the police, even though no hard evidence has been found against him. Seren, a journalist with the local Herald, has the opportunity to interview him, and this is a big deal for the local paper which Seren starts to feel the pressure of. Can she get to the bottom of what happened to his wife, Julia?
All the time while I was reading this, I had this uncomfortable feeling that something was going to happen to Seren as she got closer and closer to Max as she peered into his life. Max was a character who I could never quite make my mind up about, and I thought that Amanda played this quite well.
I could never be quite sure what had happened to his wife Julia and if he was involved in the disappearance or not. I did try and work it out along the way, but I didn’t have much success until quite close to the end when the events surrounding Julia’s disappearance started to become clearer.
This was cleverly plotted, and I liked how all the strands pulled together as the novel drew towards its conclusion. There was a bombshell moment towards the end which just left me desperate to find out what was really going on; I just had to ignore everything else and read to the last page right away, and it made for a very exciting finale as the final secrets were revealed. It did make me realise where Amanda was heading with this all along, and it was done very well.
As well as wanting to get to the bottom of what had happened to Julia and her relationship with Max, I thought that Seren also had a very interesting backstory as well. I’m still thinking about what is happening in her life after finishing the book as there is part of her story which I’m sure will leave readers with questions. It’s not directly linked to the main plot, but there is definitely enough intrigue here for me to want to find out more about her. I’m wondering if Amanda has any plans to return to Seren at some point in the future.
This is another excellent read from Amanda that I definitely recommend. It will keep you guessing right the way through. Hugely enjoyable.
All the time while I was reading this, I had this uncomfortable feeling that something was going to happen to Seren as she got closer and closer to Max as she peered into his life. Max was a character who I could never quite make my mind up about, and I thought that Amanda played this quite well.
I could never be quite sure what had happened to his wife Julia and if he was involved in the disappearance or not. I did try and work it out along the way, but I didn’t have much success until quite close to the end when the events surrounding Julia’s disappearance started to become clearer.
This was cleverly plotted, and I liked how all the strands pulled together as the novel drew towards its conclusion. There was a bombshell moment towards the end which just left me desperate to find out what was really going on; I just had to ignore everything else and read to the last page right away, and it made for a very exciting finale as the final secrets were revealed. It did make me realise where Amanda was heading with this all along, and it was done very well.
As well as wanting to get to the bottom of what had happened to Julia and her relationship with Max, I thought that Seren also had a very interesting backstory as well. I’m still thinking about what is happening in her life after finishing the book as there is part of her story which I’m sure will leave readers with questions. It’s not directly linked to the main plot, but there is definitely enough intrigue here for me to want to find out more about her. I’m wondering if Amanda has any plans to return to Seren at some point in the future.
This is another excellent read from Amanda that I definitely recommend. It will keep you guessing right the way through. Hugely enjoyable.
June 23, 2019
Every so often you pick up a book thinking you’re going to have a really gripping read because the author’s books are variously described as -
“A dizzying novel keeps you on your toes”
“gripping and twisty”
“Gripping from start to finish...”
What more could I want? Well, a convincing story with likeable characters would be good. Unfortunately I got neither.
Julia, young and beautiful (well, of course she is, no-one wants to read about some wizened old crone), is married to charming, eccentric, mysterious Max Blake, a famous author. During the celebration of their tenth wedding anniversary, at their “stunning country estate” (it had to be didn’t it - no semi in the suburbs for them dahling), Julia disappears. Life was just peachy, so she can’t have walked away willingly, can she? Did she walk, or was she….gasp of horror...murdered? Surely not.
Enter Seren ( could this be short for serendipity, or Serengeti maybe?) junior reporter for the local rag. Apparently Max has agreed to an exclusive interview but only with Seren. Uh-oh, I smell Trouble...
I would say that this has all the ingredients of a thumping good thriller; I would say it if it were true but it’s not. It’s predictable, silly, implausible, cheesy with characters who fail to connect with this reader.
This is not the first of Ms Reynolds’ books I’ve tried, but it will be the last.
My thanks to Amazon for an ARC
“A dizzying novel keeps you on your toes”
“gripping and twisty”
“Gripping from start to finish...”
What more could I want? Well, a convincing story with likeable characters would be good. Unfortunately I got neither.
Julia, young and beautiful (well, of course she is, no-one wants to read about some wizened old crone), is married to charming, eccentric, mysterious Max Blake, a famous author. During the celebration of their tenth wedding anniversary, at their “stunning country estate” (it had to be didn’t it - no semi in the suburbs for them dahling), Julia disappears. Life was just peachy, so she can’t have walked away willingly, can she? Did she walk, or was she….gasp of horror...murdered? Surely not.
Enter Seren ( could this be short for serendipity, or Serengeti maybe?) junior reporter for the local rag. Apparently Max has agreed to an exclusive interview but only with Seren. Uh-oh, I smell Trouble...
I would say that this has all the ingredients of a thumping good thriller; I would say it if it were true but it’s not. It’s predictable, silly, implausible, cheesy with characters who fail to connect with this reader.
This is not the first of Ms Reynolds’ books I’ve tried, but it will be the last.
My thanks to Amazon for an ARC
January 16, 2020
What kept this story interesting was trying to figure out the night Julia disappeared and what happened to her. Blood was found in a little cabin on the premises of her much older and famous author husband Max. Rumors swirled regarding Julia's affairs, and Max's reactions to a disagreement on the night of their anniversary which all led to the suspicion that her husband killed her.
Seren is a new reporter and gets the exclusive to interview Max for a local paper. She makes a few rookie mistakes, and looses her job. But her persistence and inquisitive nature, however, leads her to asking the right questions, and she is able to get a real picture of who Julia was and she is able to find out what happened the night Julia disappeared.
The story was decent, however I didn't have much of a connection to the characters. They were soulless. I didn't really have a fondness for any of them. I also felt Seren was a bit weak. She was the main character but was broke, then jobless and made a bad decision to drink too much and loose out on her exclusive. Plus she broke an engagement to a wonderful man who appeared to have really loved her. But I think this is what a 23 year old would do so it seems fathomable. The way the story ended made sense, but I felt it was kinda thrown at the reader since there was very little foreshadowing. Overall, I gave the book 3.5 stars primarily for the story and it's writing.
Seren is a new reporter and gets the exclusive to interview Max for a local paper. She makes a few rookie mistakes, and looses her job. But her persistence and inquisitive nature, however, leads her to asking the right questions, and she is able to get a real picture of who Julia was and she is able to find out what happened the night Julia disappeared.
The story was decent, however I didn't have much of a connection to the characters. They were soulless. I didn't really have a fondness for any of them. I also felt Seren was a bit weak. She was the main character but was broke, then jobless and made a bad decision to drink too much and loose out on her exclusive. Plus she broke an engagement to a wonderful man who appeared to have really loved her. But I think this is what a 23 year old would do so it seems fathomable. The way the story ended made sense, but I felt it was kinda thrown at the reader since there was very little foreshadowing. Overall, I gave the book 3.5 stars primarily for the story and it's writing.
March 28, 2019
2.5 stars -- a few good moments, but most of it felt contrived. A helpless 23-year-old woman "trapped" on a cut-off estate with a mysterious, charming, eccentric, possibly-wife-murdering author. Throw in a creepy housekeeper/personal assistant who's loyal to the point of creepy, and you have the makings of a Hitchcock-esque set-up.
The mystery was interesting enough, though too little too late. The second disappearance and the possibility of a connection were left for the last third of the story, and the sexual harassment storyline was dropped in from nowhere and went nowhere. The disappearance of Seren's brother also turned out to be inconsequential, though perhaps there's a series in the offing, where it will be relevant.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
The mystery was interesting enough, though too little too late. The second disappearance and the possibility of a connection were left for the last third of the story, and the sexual harassment storyline was dropped in from nowhere and went nowhere. The disappearance of Seren's brother also turned out to be inconsequential, though perhaps there's a series in the offing, where it will be relevant.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
July 18, 2020
This book wasn't awful it just wasn't interesting at all; I was honestly just bored reading it and didn't care about the mystery of what happened to Julia. My review is going to be so short because I just don't care enough to say much about it.
The MC wasn't awful but she was a little irritating; and her whole background revolving her brother Bryn seemed to be utterly pointless. Whilst I get that it was meant to give her an emotional attachment to the case in that Julia has gone missing, it didn't seem to actually happen at all?
I don't know it was just boring and the reveal was boring. I didn't care about the plot or the characters.
The MC wasn't awful but she was a little irritating; and her whole background revolving her brother Bryn seemed to be utterly pointless. Whilst I get that it was meant to give her an emotional attachment to the case in that Julia has gone missing, it didn't seem to actually happen at all?
I don't know it was just boring and the reveal was boring. I didn't care about the plot or the characters.
March 30, 2024
A solid read but a little too slow of a burn for me. Unlike The Assistant, the first novel I read by Amanda Reynolds, the story didn’t move along chapter by chapter.
Three stars, for me, means that I’m sure many others would enjoy this even if it doesn’t find itself on the top of my list of favorites.
Three stars, for me, means that I’m sure many others would enjoy this even if it doesn’t find itself on the top of my list of favorites.
April 5, 2019
Intriguing and atmospheric psychological thriller about the wife of a famous writer who goes missing from a country house and a junior reporter Seren, who is searching for answers. Loved the characters, especially Seren, and the plot kept me guessing.
April 16, 2019
I wanted to love this book after I've seen all the hype on twitter.
However, I was slightly disappointed, I have to say it is wonderfully written and I loved the plot.
There were definitely some good parts, I just found it a little slow
However, I was slightly disappointed, I have to say it is wonderfully written and I loved the plot.
There were definitely some good parts, I just found it a little slow
January 14, 2020
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator had a Welsh accent which was great but it took me a while to get into her voice. Also I felt the start of the book was quite uneventful but once the story got going I enjoyed it.
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