The Review

As I delved into “The Other Mrs.” by Mary Kubica, I was immediately drawn into the intriguing premise. Sadie and Will Foust move their family from Chicago to an island in Maine, seeking a fresh start following an incident at their son’s school, a possible medical malpractice, and the death of Will’s sister, which left them inheriting the Maine house and the gruesome responsibility of caring for their troubled teenage niece, Imogen. However, their “fresh start” doesn’t last for long as their neighbor, Morgan Baines, is murdered, and her 6-year-old daughter finds the body. Obsessed with the case, Sadie takes matters into her own hands and investigates the murder, concerned that the killer is still on the loose.

Throughout the book, we encounter multiple points of view, including Sadie’s, a young girl named Mouse, “The Other Woman” from Sadie and Will’s past, and finally Will’s perspective. Being a connoisseur of mystery thrillers and having already read “Local Woman Missing,” I figured out the main twist early on. This didn’t dampen the novel for me, as I was intrigued to see how the story would unfold and incorporate this twist into the plotline. As Sadie got entangled in the mystery surrounding the murder, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the secrets lurking in the shadows. The more she unraveled about Mrs. Baines, the more she risked losing everything if the truth came to light.

The setting of the creepy old house on the Maine island originally provided an eerie backdrop in the beginning, but this aspect seemed to be forgotten or overlooked as the story progressed. This may have been due to the distraction of listening to the novel and missing some key details that were supposed to enhance the creep factor. As the final chapters approached, the book fell a bit short of my expectations. A forced twist and a rushed ending failed to provide the satisfying resolution I had hoped for, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction.

While the book didn’t leave a lasting impression on me, it offered moments of intrigue and suspense. The fast-paced nature of the book kept me engrossed, and the author’s ability to create a suspenseful atmosphere, filled with an aura of menace and unease, was commendable. The twists, although not all surprising, kept me engaged and curious to uncover the truth. The characterization, however, fell somewhat short, particularly with Sadie, whom I struggled to fully connect with or empathize.

In summary, “The Other Mrs.” was a mixed reading experience for me. Personally, I feel this novel was more of a “spoof” novel, similar to that of Kristin Bell’s ‘The Women in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.” While it had its moments of suspense and mystery, it didn’t entirely meet my expectations, and it seemed to rely heavily on various thriller tropes. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers and don’t mind some predictable twists, you might still find enjoyment in this book. However, if you’re seeking a more substantial and satisfying read, you may want to explore other works in the genre.

3 out of 5 Stars!

---

Short Review (AKA TLDR)

As I delved into “The Other Mrs.” by Mary Kubica, I was immediately drawn into the intriguing premise of Sadie and Will Foust’s fresh start on a Maine island, overshadowed by a murder in their neighborhood. The book offered moments of suspense and mystery, with multiple perspectives and twists, although some were predictable. While the fast-paced nature and the author’s ability to create an atmosphere of unease kept me engaged, the characterization, particularly of Sadie, fell somewhat short. The setting of the creepy old house initially provided an eerie backdrop but was forgotten as the story progressed, and the forced twist and rushed ending left me dissatisfied. Overall, the novel had its moments but didn’t entirely meet my expectations, making it more of a “spoof” read, relying heavily on thriller tropes. Fans of psychological thrillers with a tolerance for predictability may still enjoy it, but those seeking a more substantial and satisfying experience may want to explore other works in the genre.