Having someone read to you is a joy we come to appreciate as a child and recently I indulged and listened to Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle. Easy to follow, full of suspense with cliffhanger moments at the end of each chapter…I was addicted from the very beginning!
Beth has been planning an escape from her abusive husband for a long time. We go on the journey with her as she escapes the danger and runs away, fighting for survival, trying to create a new identity while at the same time hoping to leave bogus clues to lead the man she fears far away from her.
Sabine is missing when her husband Jeffrey arrives home from work. He can’t imagine where she might be; her personal belongings are still intact and he is distraught over her disappearance.
Marriage may not be easy and Marcus the detective takes a good hard look at Jeffrey and Sabine’s history as he is investigating the case of her disappearance. Told from three points of view, Author Kimberly Belle creates unbearable tension as she reveals clues every step of the way to help us piece together what really happened; Is Beth really Sabine? Did Jeffrey kill his wife? What secrets are they hiding?
Nothing like a fast paced mystery to listen to as you walk at the beach! Loved listening to Dear Wife and recommend it if you are looking for a fun escape that keeps you guessing!
Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of five novels, including the domestic suspense, Dear Wife (June 2019). Her third novel, The Marriage Lie, was a semifinalist in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller, and her work has been translated into a dozen languages. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Belle divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
Lila Bennett’s life is not run of the mill. She is a young, upwardly mobile criminal defense lawyer, has had the challenging experience of defending the guilty on more than one occasion, and has stepped on some toes along the way to achieve her success. Questions regarding her moral and ethical decisions plague her psyche when it comes to her job and her past personal life choices, and to add to her confusion, conflicting emotions when it comes to her best friend’s husband has lead her to make some recent choices that could jeopardize her own marriage.
Lila’s life could go in two different directions…and in The Two Lila Bennetts, and in Sliding Doors fashion, they do! In one case, Lila leaves her office at night, gets captured and held hostage by a masked assailant in an undisclosed location, while being forced to repent for her bad choices. In another case she is being followed and emotionally tortured with hints and clues about her checkered past as they slowly become public.
Authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke take us on an emotional and thrilling ride, following through with Lila’s parallel lives; we are faced with unexpected twists and turns every step of the way as the anticipation builds. Lila must re-evaluate her choices and figure out who is out to get her before it is too late…and even if she does, can she return to her life as it once was?
For an edge of your seat escape you don’t want to put down, grab a copy of The Two Lila Bennetts!
Q & A with Liz and Lisa
Q: You have said that writing Girls’ Night Out Together practically ended your partnership and The Two Lila Bennetts brought you back together. Can you explain?
The edit of GNO was very challenging and we found ourselves at an impasse. For so many years we had been on cruise control, not really discussing the particulars of how we do things. And that worked until we were pushed to the limit with that edit. (We rewrote a large portion of the book FOUR times!)
But ultimately, hitting rock bottom was the best thing that could have happened. It gave us an opportunity to start fresh and understand each other and our work processes better. Lila was a joy to write and edit, and it felt like a fresh start.
Q: I am curious about your process…how did you split up the writing? Did one of you write Lila captured and the other write Lila free?
A: One of the lessons we learned from Girls’ Night Out was that we both need to be fully invested in every narrative and/or timeline. So because of that, we would alternate which one of us would begin a free or captured chapter. Then we would pass the chapter back and forth, editing until we were both happy.
Q: I love how there were hints of a double life when Lila free had unexplained soreness and dejavu. Did you add those references in the edit stage or right from the beginning?
A: They were there from the beginning! We thought it was important for Lila to subconsciously be aware of both lives.
Q: Who came up with the “Sliding Door” concept? (I never saw the movie but it is now on my list!)
A: Liz’s fourteen-year-old daughter! We were creatively depleted after the GNO edit and she tossed out taking the Sliding Doors concept (we’d forced her to watch the movie!), and creating a suspense novel. That’s why we dedicated the book to her.
Q: Without giving anything away, did you stick with a plan for each of your characters or did things change during the writing process?
A: We changed the kidnapper in edits. Both our agent and editor thought it was too obvious, and they were right!
Q: Being a lawyer that defends guilty people is defiantly a challenge and can wear on you morally. How did you come up with the idea for your title character?
A: We wanted Lila to have a career that had a lot of moral gray area to give her room to make questionable choices. She’s at a point in her life where she’s questioning many things, including her choice of career.
Q: Even though Lila wronged people in her life, she was still likable and I rooted for her until the end. How do you create a balance of good and evil but keep your heroine intact?
A: It’s really tough! The most important thing is to create interesting protagonists and to show the reader why they are the way they are. With Lila, she had made many bad choices, but that didn’t mean she was a terrible person, and it also gave room for growth in her arc.
Q: If this book were to become a movie, who would you want to play Lila, Ethan, Sam and Carrie?
A: For Lila–Krysten Ritter Carrie-Kate Hudson Ethan-Mark Ruffalo and Jay Hernandez for Sam
Q: What books do you have on your nightstand and what do you recommend?
A: Liz is reading The Library Book by Susan Orlean and Lisa just finished Ask Again, Yes. We have so many books on our TBR! Some include: This is Not How It Ends by Rochelle Weinstein, Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein and Breathe In, Cash Out by Madeline Henry
Q: Can you tell me a little about your next book?
A: We’re switching things up a bit next summer with a dark love story! It’s called How To Save a Life, and it’s about a man named Dom that must figure out how to save the love of his life when she re-enters his life after a ten-year absence. Think Russian Doll meets One Day in December.
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have co-authored six books:
THE TWO LILA BENNETTS, about a woman whose life is split into two. Literally. (Out July 23rd)
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT, about three estranged friends who go to Mexico and one of them disappears. (Lake Union, July 24th, 2018)
THE GOOD WIDOW, about a wife who learns that nothing is as it seems: not her marriage, her husband…or his death is out now. (Lake Union.)
THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY, about three best friends who get the chance to re-live the year that dramatically changed the course of their lives, is out now. (Atria Books.)
THE STATUS OF ALL THINGS, about a woman who discovers she can literally rewrite her fate on Facebook, is out now. (Atria Books.)
YOUR PERFECT LIFE, about two childhood best friends who wake up the morning after their 20th high school reunion to discover they’ve switched bodies is out now. (Atria Books.) (less)
Can you forgive and repair old friendships and have them be as strong as they used to be? In this Agatha Christie-like murder mystery where everyone is a suspect, Kate wants to know who killed her mother, Lily, and who is sending her threatening notes. Her old best friend Blaire returns to her life after being estranged, ready to help, but does she have her own agenda? And is Kate’s husband, Simon having an affair? Is her dad keeping a secret? Is the nanny being honest? Set in the world of old money and generational wealth of Baltimore, Kate has suffered more than one tragic loss and her family and friends support her, yet one of them could be a murderer. Filled with lots of twists and turns, this whodunnit keeps you on your toes! The Last Time I Saw You‘s author, Liv Constantine is the master of deception and lies, with this fast paced psychological suspense, perfect for a day on the beach!
I was fortunate enough to attend a book talk with the authors and learned about them and their writing process.
Liv Constantine is the pen name for Lynne and Valerie Constantine, the dynamic duo sisters who write together over FaceTime; one lives in Maryland, the other in Connecticut. They figured out the secret to success with their huge best seller, The Last Mrs. Parrish, and are back with a new psychological thriller that will keep you flipping through the pages, called The Last Time I Saw You. Lynne and Val started working together 20 years ago in person and enjoy having each other as writing partners. They split the writing pretty evenly but both have their own strengths, as Val is best at setting and scene and Lynne is the pro on writing dialog. They come up with the story line and characters together and luckily, they rarely disagree.
The theme of The Last Time I Saw You is friendship, and it is dedicated to the Tuesday ladies, the special group friends who spent time with their mom and aunt, always elegantly dressed with nice shoes, fancy hair and makeup.
After a big splash in the book world with Mrs. Parrish, there was considerable pressure to follow suit. This sophomore book took them one and a half years to write, and according to the authors, it was like pulling teeth all the way! Revisions were plentiful as their publisher told them they needed one more twist in the plot, and then the decision to change who the murderer was in the third draft led to some rewriting. Lucky for us, the book is complete and out in the world! FYI, their third book, about a wife stalker, only took four months to write and is in edits now!
When asked about the attention received for The Last Mrs. Parrish, Lynne and Val told a few stories.
(Lynne, sorry about this photo with your eyes closed licking your lips…you must be thinking about Patrick Dempsey!)
When The Last Mrs. Parrish was chosen for the People Magazine pick, the sisters were ecstatic and ventured out to CVS to buy up a bunch of copies. Unfortunately Harvey Weinstein was on the cover and they got a lot of strange looks from observers!
When they were notified that Reese Witherspoon chose Mrs. Parrish for her book club, over the phone, they screamed with delight but were then told they had to keep it quiet for close to three weeks. They lied to one of their husbands who was in the room at the time, making up some story about how someone was going to write an article about them. He thought they were a bit dramatic but they stuck to their story. Ultimately Lynne and Val were thrilled when Witherspoon announced her pick of The Last Mrs. Parrish and they had the pleasure of connecting with Reese on Instagram.
The most recent, exciting news is that Amazon is developing a series based on Mrs. Parrish, but mums the word on details as of now!
Liv Constantine is the pen name of USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and international bestselling authors and sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine, co-authors of the Reese Witherspoon book club pick, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH. Separated by three states, they spend hours plotting via FaceTime and burning up each other’s emails. They attribute their ability to concoct dark story lines to the hours they spent listening to tales handed down by their Greek grandmother. Their next book, THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, was released on May 7, 2019.
Authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are superstars when it comes to psychological thrillers. Last year they came out with The Wife Between Us which has you working hard to figure out what is going to happen next, and with unexpected plot twists, the authors rewards you with continual surprises and unanticipated shocks. A bitter ex-wife, a younger, prettier replacement…you think you know what’s going on. But you don’t! Little tidbits feed your knowledge of what you believe could be the truth but you will be fooled. Skillfully written with all loose ends tied up by the conclusion, this is impressive writing by the author duo and so much fun to read.
An Anonymous Girl, their recent bestseller, currently headed to the big screen, delivers continual suspense and gives you much to think about. A doctor conducting a study on morals and ethics is looking for women volunteers to participate. The questions are simple but get increasingly more challenging and unpredictable. Relationships become murky when overcome with jealousy and deceit. What is real? And who can be trusted?
Manipulative and oh, so addictive, these two fantastic thrillers are not to be missed! I read each book in less than 24 hours, one after the other! All you need is a weekend of no plans – you must cuddle up with these gems and your favorite stress eating snacks (gummy bears and licorice😜)…and dive right in…you will be on the edge of your seat!
Check out this Video interview; Sara Haines of GMA talks with Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen about their writing process and how they work together.
Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are the co-authors of the blockbuster New York Times bestseller, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, as well as the forthcoming, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL. AN ANONYMOUS GIRL has been optioned for a television series by eOne, with Sarah and Greer executive producing. THE WIFE BETWEEN US has been optioned for film by Amblin Entertainment, with Sarah and Greer screenwriting the adaptation.
I read the whole book in two sittings! Psychological thrillers are supposed to grab you right away, pull you in, create situations where you make assumptions and then force you to second guess yourself…Author Catherine Steadman did just that in her fast moving debut novel Something in the Water. (FYI she is also an actress from Downton Abbey and she narrated the audio book!)
Mark is an investment banker and Erin is a filmmaker in the midst of making a documentary about people in prison. (The subjects of money and crime could be foreshadowing!!!) The handsome couple is honeymooning in exotic Bora Bora and they are very much in love. While on a secluded scuba diving day trip they discover something in the crystal clear blue water. They make a decision about what to do and so it begins! That is all I can say! Around ever corner the newlyweds have to decide how to proceed, and as they dig their grave (figuratively…and maybe even literally!) they battle their moral compass while their loyalty to each other is tested. Greed, curiosity and BIG secrets make this latest Reese Witherspoon Book Club choice a fun summer read!
Catherine Steadman is an actress and writer based in North London. She is known for her roles in Downton Abbey and Tutankhamun, starring alongside Sam Neill, as well as shows including Breathless, The Inbetweeners, The Tudors, and Fresh Meat.
In 2017 she will feature in political thriller Fearless and new BBC comedy Bucket. She also has appeared on stage in the West End including Oppenheimer for the RSC, for which she was nominated for a 2016 Laurence Olivier Award.
Amber Patterson has had a disappointing life and so she sets her eyes on a handsome, rich married man, Jackson Parrish, with her goal being to make him hers, in The Last Mrs. Parrish. She befriends his lovely wife, Daphne, and weasels her way into the family, developing relationships with his inner circle, even his young children. Amber’s sisterly connection with Daphne deepens as they have what seems to be unbreakable ties as they bond over similar experiences of loss, and their friendship appears to be genuine and strong. But Amber is conniving and she works her way into Mr. Parrish’s office, ultimately getting a job as his assistant, and manipulating him into being interested in her and thinking his wife is becoming a bore. Continually scheming to get what she wants, this psychological thriller draws you in. And then there is a twist…We learn about Daphne Parrish’s past, her relationship with her husband, Jackson, and the truth behind her seemingly beautiful life and perfect marriage. Secrets are revealed fast and furious; The Last Mrs. Parrish is not a book to put down…it is a one day read…maddening and tragic, addictive, thrilling and entertaining….a great escape!
As Seen of Goodreads:
A mesmerizing debut psychological thriller full of delicious twists about a coolly manipulative woman who worms her way into the lives of a wealthy “golden couple” from Connecticut to achieve the privileged life she wants.
Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne and her husband, Jackson—the beautiful philanthropist and the confident real estate mogul—are a golden couple straight out of a fairytale, blessed with two lovely young daughters.
Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn’t have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrish family, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces.
With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.
About the Author:
Liv Constantine is the pen name of USA Today and WSJ bestselling authors and sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Separated by three states, they spend hours plotting via skype and burning up each other’s emails. They attribute their ability to concoct dark story lines to the hours they spent listening to tales handed down by their Greek grandmother. THE LAST MRS. PARRISH is their debut thriller. Visit them at www.livconstantine.com
Rights for THE LAST MRS. PARRISH have been sold in 19 other territories, including Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Korea, the UK, China, and Russia.
Nothing beats a heart pounding psychological thriller to keep you looking over your shoulder! Clare Mackintosh has done it twice with her novelsI Let You Go and I See You. I loved them both! Be prepared for the twists and turns every step of the way…and don’t forget to breath!
As seen on Goodreads:
In a split second, Jenna Gray’s world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh. Desperate to escape, Jenna moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but she is haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of a cruel November night that changed her life forever.
Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness in her future. But her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating . . .
As seen on Goodreads:
You do the same thing every day.
You know exactly where you’re going.
You’re not alone.
When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it’s there. There’s no explanation: just a website, a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it’s just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.
Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .
I See You is an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning psychological thriller from one of the most exciting and successful British debut talents of 2015.
As seen on Goodreads:
Clare Mackintosh spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant and is the founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival. She now writes full time and lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their three children.
Clare’s debut novel, I Let You Go, is a Sunday Times bestseller and was the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It was selected for both the Richard and Judy Book Club, and was the winning title of the readers’ vote for the summer 2015 selection, and ITV’s Loose Women’s Loose Books. Her second novel, I See You, is a number 1 Sunday Times bestseller. Clare’s books are translated into more than 30 languages.
Clare is the patron of the Silver Star Society, an Oxford-based charity which supports the work carried out in the John Radcliffe Hospital’s Silver Star unit, providing special care for mothers with medical complications during pregnancy.
