THE MOTHER-IN-LAW

I wanted to read this book ever since it was published, because the title is a hot topic amongst married Indian women. What I liked: a) the dynamics between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, their perspectives, backgrounds, where they come from and how it affects their thoughts and actions – why they do what they do. b) There are a lot of matter-of-fact statements about relationships. c) The part where Lucy and Diana have a conversation and the former mentions how the men in the room thought it was a perfectly normal one and were totally unaware of the hostile undercurrents in it, is simply excellent. The best part was Diana’s retort to Rhonda on the overpriced wedding dress. What I did not like or found odd: a) the pace of the book is slow, it lacked the feel or suspense of a thriller. b) The police investigation leaves a lot to be desired, or rather the author has not devoted many pages to it and the reader does not get any idea of the police views, how the investigation concludes is not mentioned at all. c) Diana’s background story is incomplete. How Tom and Diana became wealthy is a mystery. d) Why Diana chooses to help only Afghan refugee women is not explained. Also why does she not advise them on family planning, instead of just helping them with their multiple deliveries? e) Lucy is struggling to take care of one kid and still decides to go for two more! This is absolutely absurd. Overall, I liked the book for the relationship dynamics more than the mystery part.

Phew! This book was a roller-coaster ride of suspense, emotions, and relationships. To be honest, it's not your typical nail-biting suspense or thriller. But the way this book captures the depths of emotions in a seemingly 'normal' and by all accounts a well-off household is extremely captivating! The storyline is really really good!! I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it.

Don't waste your time reading this book. The author desperately tries to sound intelligent but falls flat miserably. There is no continuity, no conclusion, no sense in the story.

最近読んだ中では1番面白かったです それぞれのメンバーの秘密が明らかになっていく過程は、飽きることがなく楽しめます 伏線が全て回収されていて、また読後もそれ程後味が悪いものでもなくオススメできる一冊です

From start to finish this was the perfect book for me to read. Absolutely couldn’t put it down whilst on holiday and had that blissful feeling of being totally wrapped up in the best book I have read in a long time. I was quite apprehensive about the title, yes most of us have Mother-in-law’s but this story was a little close to home for me, in fact the first few pages had me sweating as I thought someone had been watching my life from afar. My Mother-in-law also committed suicide when we had been married 10 years, we too had a similar kind of relationship to Lucy and Diane, it was very love/hate from both parties. I was so pleased that they managed to form a relationship based on mutual respect and actually said they loved each other, I think I needed to see that in the book and thank you for that. My relationship followed a similar path (thank goodness). Having my own personal experience along a similar line, I felt the story was executed accurately and sensitively which made it all the more compelling. I will certainly be looking to read further novels from Sally Hepworth and would highly recommend this book.

This a great book, with all the ingredients for a perfect read. I couldn't put it down. I loved the narrative style, the character development and the unforeseeable twists in the story. I highly recommend it.

I loved this book more than I could ever have imagined, it is so much more to the story than I first anticipated, and the relationship between mother-in-law / daughter-in-law is somewhat tense but very understandable, and so not the priory message of this book! Worth reading EVERY page!

In less than a month, I've devoured my second Sally Hepworth novel, and once again, I found myself unable to put it down. "The mother-in-law" seamlessly blends an easy reading experience with a gripping narrative, drawing readers into its world of suspense and intrigue. Despite its murder storyline, Hepworth manages to maintain a light and engaging tone throughout, making it a truly enjoyable read. What strikes me most about Hepworth's writing is her ability to craft characters that feel real and relatable, each with their own complexities and secrets. As the plot unfolds, she skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping readers guessing until the very end. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, eager to unravel the mystery and discover the truth behind the chilling events that unfold. Hepworth's pacing is spot on, never allowing the story to stagnate or lose momentum. As I reluctantly reached the final pages, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for Hepworth's next book that I already purchased. Her novels are like literary comfort food—satisfying, addictive, and always leaving you wanting more.