Review: The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

Editorial note: I received a copy of The Other Mrs. in exchange for a review.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica is a chilling story that you’ll want to read in one sitting.

Mary Kubica is also the author of several novels including The Good Girl and When the Lights Go Out, which all receive lots of acclaim. This is why I decided to include The Other Mrs. in my must-read book club picks for this year. The Other Mrs. is the first novel I’ve read by her and I instantly became a huge fan.

Thrillers are tricky. I’m sure tough to write with so many different aspects to it—keep the suspense but give hints along the way. Have some shocking twists but maybe not too out there. And while I enjoy the genre, I’ve also have read a few that just did not work for me.

But The Other Mrs. is clever, unpredictable and creepy as hell. I thought it was a good idea to start this novel late on a Wednesday night, and of course, I stayed up way too late because I had to finish it. And then I couldn’t fall asleep because I kept thinking about it. So in other words—the book did its job.

Synopsis

Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie.

But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. And as the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of what really happened that dark and deadly night. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light.

A Tale of Deception

I’m keeping this review spoiler-free and honestly, the less you know about this story the better. But I want to really stress that Mary is a fantastic writer. She instantly sets the scene of this small-town and an eerie old house—it’s so vivid. She gives just enough to the reader to know there’s more than meets the eye. Definitely pay close attention to each chapter—there’s no filler content here.

But it’s not just simply a thriller to shock people—there’s actually a bigger message in this story.

Deadline announced last year that Netflix will turn the book into a feature film with Mary producing. Be sure to read the book before the movie comes out!

Final review thoughts: an engaging and unpredictable thriller that will make you think.

Check out my book club questions here.