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The Second Wife
She married for love. But is she ready to die for it?
Tamsin has recently married renowned composer Robin Featherstone. Robin is much older, but Tamsin doesn’t care - she’s in love.
And she knows Robin loves her too, even if he is very close to another young woman – his assistant, Mia.
But Robin’s ex-wife and grown children aren’t happy – they’re sure Tamsin is a gold-digger and Mia is an opportunist.
Then, when Robin dies suddenly, the family’s worst fears are realised - Tamsin stands to inherit everything. But when the will is read, its contents are beyond shocking.
As Mia and Tamsin are pitted against each other, only one thing is clear. The family will go to any lengths to stop either of them inheriting even a part of Robin’s estate.
Isolated in the family mansion, fearing for their lives and distrustful of each other, Tamsin and Mia are determined to stand their ground. But then a dark family secret is revealed which may engulf them all…
Tamsin has recently married renowned composer Robin Featherstone. Robin is much older, but Tamsin doesn’t care - she’s in love.
And she knows Robin loves her too, even if he is very close to another young woman – his assistant, Mia.
But Robin’s ex-wife and grown children aren’t happy – they’re sure Tamsin is a gold-digger and Mia is an opportunist.
Then, when Robin dies suddenly, the family’s worst fears are realised - Tamsin stands to inherit everything. But when the will is read, its contents are beyond shocking.
As Mia and Tamsin are pitted against each other, only one thing is clear. The family will go to any lengths to stop either of them inheriting even a part of Robin’s estate.
Isolated in the family mansion, fearing for their lives and distrustful of each other, Tamsin and Mia are determined to stand their ground. But then a dark family secret is revealed which may engulf them all…
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2022
About the author
Miranda Rijks
33 books693 followersMiranda Rijks is the author of 23 psychological thrillers, many of which have been Amazon bestsellers. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and two black Labradors.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
July 22, 2022
The Second Wife is a fast paced, character driven thriller that pulled me in instantly. Betrayal and paranoia drive the plot as secrets are revealed and lives are shattered. Unanswered questions lead to suspicion with danger lurking around every corner. This thriller proves the point of being careful what you wish for. Getting what you want may not always be best, as is shown in this well written, original thriller. I look forward to reading future books by this author. Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my copy.
May 5, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.
Robin the very wealthy composer, Tamsin the young new wife, Claudia the ex-wife, David & Brooke the two bratty children and Mia the cleaner and inspiring violinist...who killed Robin? And why did Mia inherit everything?
I really did not put that ending together. It was extremely well executed. The writing style was very easy to follow, the plot was amazing, and the character building was superb even so that you kept thinking they all might have had a hand in it.
A very enjoyable book indeed!
Robin the very wealthy composer, Tamsin the young new wife, Claudia the ex-wife, David & Brooke the two bratty children and Mia the cleaner and inspiring violinist...who killed Robin? And why did Mia inherit everything?
I really did not put that ending together. It was extremely well executed. The writing style was very easy to follow, the plot was amazing, and the character building was superb even so that you kept thinking they all might have had a hand in it.
A very enjoyable book indeed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2022
Never judge a book by its cover.
My favorite takeaway from this book was its enticing and stunning cover.
Let the record show that I usually absolutely, positively adore "second wives" books and I am a HUGE Miranda Rijks fan.
So why the 3 stars (rounded up) rating?
Perhaps my expectations were set waaay too high, but this "thriller" simply lacked the thrills and strong characterizations that I was seeking and expecting.
Surprisingly, the MC in this book was not the second wife. (Huh?)
Instead, it was the second wife's violinist maid.
The book unfolded from two POVs: the violinist maid and the second wife.
I listened to the audiobook and although the book's two narrators did a superb job with the narration, both of them sounded very similar. Therefore, at times it was difficult to discern the different voices of the two MCs.
3 stars, rounded up.
My favorite takeaway from this book was its enticing and stunning cover.
Let the record show that I usually absolutely, positively adore "second wives" books and I am a HUGE Miranda Rijks fan.
So why the 3 stars (rounded up) rating?
Perhaps my expectations were set waaay too high, but this "thriller" simply lacked the thrills and strong characterizations that I was seeking and expecting.
Surprisingly, the MC in this book was not the second wife. (Huh?)
Instead, it was the second wife's violinist maid.
The book unfolded from two POVs: the violinist maid and the second wife.
I listened to the audiobook and although the book's two narrators did a superb job with the narration, both of them sounded very similar. Therefore, at times it was difficult to discern the different voices of the two MCs.
3 stars, rounded up.
April 27, 2022
Miranda Rijks writes fast paced psychological page turners and this is yet another one to add to her growing catalogue. Interesting characters, intriguing plots that have you racing through the pages wanting to know what will happen. The author often pushes the realms of reality to the limits but it does make for a very entertaining read.
When Tamsin married composer the much older Robin Featherstone a few eyebrows were raised and others questions her motives, namely Robin’s ex wife and grown up children. Robin enjoyed the company of his assistant Mia who shared a common interest in music.
When Robin dies suddenly his family fear that there reservations were about to be realised with Tamsin inheriting everything. But when the will is read, its contents take everyone by surprise, sparking a feud to who will inherit Robin’s estate.
It soon becomes apparent that the family will go to extreme lengths to stop Mia and Tamsin inheriting any part of the fortune, leaving them fearing for their lives.
I found this a very entertaining read and read it almost in one sitting.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When Tamsin married composer the much older Robin Featherstone a few eyebrows were raised and others questions her motives, namely Robin’s ex wife and grown up children. Robin enjoyed the company of his assistant Mia who shared a common interest in music.
When Robin dies suddenly his family fear that there reservations were about to be realised with Tamsin inheriting everything. But when the will is read, its contents take everyone by surprise, sparking a feud to who will inherit Robin’s estate.
It soon becomes apparent that the family will go to extreme lengths to stop Mia and Tamsin inheriting any part of the fortune, leaving them fearing for their lives.
I found this a very entertaining read and read it almost in one sitting.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2022
Tasmin has recently married renowned composer Robin Featherstone. Robin is much older, but Tasmin doesn't care - she's in love. And she knows Robin loves her too, even if he is close to another young woman - his assistant, Mia. But Robin's ex-wife and grown children aren't happy - they're sure Tasmin is a gold digger and Mia's an opportunist. Then, when Robin dies suddenly, the family's worst fears are realised = Tamsin stands to inherit everything. But when the will is read, it's contents are beyond shocking.
This is the first book that I've read by the author but it won't be my last. The characters all had a part to play in this family drama that filled with twists. I thought early on I knew who the culprit was, but I was wrong. The pace is steady. Mia was the only character I really liked, some of the others grew on me as the story progressed. But Mia has a past she hopes no one will find out about. The ending was a bit of a surprise.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #MirandaRijks for my ARC of #TheSecondWife in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book that I've read by the author but it won't be my last. The characters all had a part to play in this family drama that filled with twists. I thought early on I knew who the culprit was, but I was wrong. The pace is steady. Mia was the only character I really liked, some of the others grew on me as the story progressed. But Mia has a past she hopes no one will find out about. The ending was a bit of a surprise.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #MirandaRijks for my ARC of #TheSecondWife in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2023
I'm beginning to see a pattern in Miranda Rijks' books. The main characters are all women who did not have the best start in life; coming from families that struggled, parents dead or very ill, siblings out of the picture... But these women now have a career, and they measure their happiness in the money they make (or their husbands' money) and the size of their homes. In my opinion, this isn't always a recipe for happiness.
In The Second Wife we meet Mia, a violinist by trade, with a difficult past, a mother who died in a car accident, a struggling father and a big problem that causes her to work as a cleaner instead of being on a podium. We also meet Tamsin, who comes from a poor background but worked herself up to have a good job in PR. Until she meets Robin, a famous composer, and she marries him. Now, she's living in a very large home and goes shopping with a platinum credit card.
When something awful happens, they both have to come to terms with the consequences of the choices they made in the past.
A nice read with some unexpected twists and turns, and Mia and Tamsin are likable characters. There are some other characters in the story that are not so likable, which gave the story more depth.
A good one!
In The Second Wife we meet Mia, a violinist by trade, with a difficult past, a mother who died in a car accident, a struggling father and a big problem that causes her to work as a cleaner instead of being on a podium. We also meet Tamsin, who comes from a poor background but worked herself up to have a good job in PR. Until she meets Robin, a famous composer, and she marries him. Now, she's living in a very large home and goes shopping with a platinum credit card.
When something awful happens, they both have to come to terms with the consequences of the choices they made in the past.
A nice read with some unexpected twists and turns, and Mia and Tamsin are likable characters. There are some other characters in the story that are not so likable, which gave the story more depth.
A good one!
December 5, 2022
4.5/5
The Second Wife is officially my second time reading Miranda Rijks, and I think the secret to reading her is reading the finished copies and not the ARCs. My first book by her was an E-galley I got from NetGalley, and it was full of repetition which really bugged me, but there was absolutely none of that in this book! There aren't too many twists in this story, but I absolutely loved it and even enjoyed the slow burn of it all. The book alternates between 'the second wife' Tamsin and the maid Mia, and I loved both of their viewpoints equally. It did take me a bit longer to warm up to Tamsin, but by the end, I was actually a huge fan of hers and she ended up completely winning me over. The pacing wasn't all that fast, but it was steady, and I loved the mystery surrounding Mia most of all. The reality of her story was pretty heartbreaking, and she ended up being a very relatable character for me.
I found the audiobook on Hoopla through my library system, and I would highly recommend it since I thought it was fantastic. Peter Noble reads Robin's part at the beginning of the book, while Penelope Rawlins and Jodie Harris voice our female MCs. Their voices did sound rather similar, but that didn't bother me, and I was easily able to follow along even if I didn't know exactly whose POV I was in by their voices alone. I enjoyed the back and forth with the family and Mia, and I thought Rijks did a great job keeping the reader guessing for the whodunnit. As it turned out, I didn’t have any part of the mystery figured out and while it may not surprise everyone, it sure surprised me. The Second Wife might not be for every reader out there, but if you are a fan of mysterious stories, family drama, and red herrings, this is for you.
The Second Wife is officially my second time reading Miranda Rijks, and I think the secret to reading her is reading the finished copies and not the ARCs. My first book by her was an E-galley I got from NetGalley, and it was full of repetition which really bugged me, but there was absolutely none of that in this book! There aren't too many twists in this story, but I absolutely loved it and even enjoyed the slow burn of it all. The book alternates between 'the second wife' Tamsin and the maid Mia, and I loved both of their viewpoints equally. It did take me a bit longer to warm up to Tamsin, but by the end, I was actually a huge fan of hers and she ended up completely winning me over. The pacing wasn't all that fast, but it was steady, and I loved the mystery surrounding Mia most of all. The reality of her story was pretty heartbreaking, and she ended up being a very relatable character for me.
I found the audiobook on Hoopla through my library system, and I would highly recommend it since I thought it was fantastic. Peter Noble reads Robin's part at the beginning of the book, while Penelope Rawlins and Jodie Harris voice our female MCs. Their voices did sound rather similar, but that didn't bother me, and I was easily able to follow along even if I didn't know exactly whose POV I was in by their voices alone. I enjoyed the back and forth with the family and Mia, and I thought Rijks did a great job keeping the reader guessing for the whodunnit. As it turned out, I didn’t have any part of the mystery figured out and while it may not surprise everyone, it sure surprised me. The Second Wife might not be for every reader out there, but if you are a fan of mysterious stories, family drama, and red herrings, this is for you.
May 29, 2022
I just loved this book. Got through it pretty quickly and going to miss the characters
Will read more from this author
Will read more from this author
November 29, 2022
Miranda Rijks' THE SECOND WIFE, now in audiobook format, is a twisty, gripping multi-layered psychological whodunit mystery brimming with dark surprises.
One man. Two wives. Grown children. Caretakers. Staff. And Mia.
Robin Featherstone, a renowned composer. He is a wealthy accomplished older man. He has a first wife and grown children, which are very selfish, privileged, and manipulative.
His current second wife, Tamsin, is beautiful and young. There was no prenup, and the entire family thinks of her as a gold digger. She is pretty self-centered and likes her lifestyle.
Then there is Mia. I liked Mia. She had a rough life and spent time in prison for something she did not do, and she loves her father. She is a violinist and has a career, but she took this job that fell in her lap cleaning for the famous Robin.
The two bond over music.
When Robin has a stroke, he is not the same person. Then there is an accident when Robin takes a deadly fall. Was it an accident, or was he pushed? Was it murder?
Who has the motive to murder Robin? Who stands to gain the most?
The plot thickens when we learn that Robin wrote a new will two days before his death.
The will is read. Everyone is shocked. There are multiple suspects, and the investigations will have to dive deep to uncover the secrets of the past.
Tamsin (current second wife), Claudia (first wife), daughter (Brooke), and his son (David). There is a letter from Robin that spells out he thinks someone is trying to murder him. There is also Marek, Pavla, and Thomas.
Let the murder mystery begin! Mia and Tamsin must join forces to save one another and uncover the lies and deceit of the past.
Rijks adds cunning twists and sharp narration that take you on an unexpected whodunit journey and will leave you with a gasp. The added clever twist at the end you will not expect!
Love. Jealousy. Greed. Deception. Revenge!
After reading, the title should have remained The Inheritance, which would be more fitting (her working title) versus The Second Wife. This novel was more of a whodunit mystery versus a psychological thriller. The title and the image on the front cover were a little misleading. Even though striking, there were two protagonists, Tamsin and Mia. Mia was the main focus, so it was not a story about only the second wife.
However, I do enjoy this author's writing and her books, even though this was not my favorite. I purchased the e-book and the audiobook narrated by Penelope Rawlins, Jodie Harris, and Peter Noble for an engaging performance.
For fans of authors Gilly Macmillan and Shari Lapena.
Website/Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 15, 2022
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books
One man. Two wives. Grown children. Caretakers. Staff. And Mia.
Robin Featherstone, a renowned composer. He is a wealthy accomplished older man. He has a first wife and grown children, which are very selfish, privileged, and manipulative.
His current second wife, Tamsin, is beautiful and young. There was no prenup, and the entire family thinks of her as a gold digger. She is pretty self-centered and likes her lifestyle.
Then there is Mia. I liked Mia. She had a rough life and spent time in prison for something she did not do, and she loves her father. She is a violinist and has a career, but she took this job that fell in her lap cleaning for the famous Robin.
The two bond over music.
When Robin has a stroke, he is not the same person. Then there is an accident when Robin takes a deadly fall. Was it an accident, or was he pushed? Was it murder?
Who has the motive to murder Robin? Who stands to gain the most?
The plot thickens when we learn that Robin wrote a new will two days before his death.
The will is read. Everyone is shocked. There are multiple suspects, and the investigations will have to dive deep to uncover the secrets of the past.
Tamsin (current second wife), Claudia (first wife), daughter (Brooke), and his son (David). There is a letter from Robin that spells out he thinks someone is trying to murder him. There is also Marek, Pavla, and Thomas.
Let the murder mystery begin! Mia and Tamsin must join forces to save one another and uncover the lies and deceit of the past.
Rijks adds cunning twists and sharp narration that take you on an unexpected whodunit journey and will leave you with a gasp. The added clever twist at the end you will not expect!
Love. Jealousy. Greed. Deception. Revenge!
After reading, the title should have remained The Inheritance, which would be more fitting (her working title) versus The Second Wife. This novel was more of a whodunit mystery versus a psychological thriller. The title and the image on the front cover were a little misleading. Even though striking, there were two protagonists, Tamsin and Mia. Mia was the main focus, so it was not a story about only the second wife.
However, I do enjoy this author's writing and her books, even though this was not my favorite. I purchased the e-book and the audiobook narrated by Penelope Rawlins, Jodie Harris, and Peter Noble for an engaging performance.
For fans of authors Gilly Macmillan and Shari Lapena.
Website/Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 15, 2022
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books
April 22, 2022
A man dies and leaves everything to his house cleaner. Did she kill him or the new wife, the bitter ex wife or the bitter adult children. The story is interesting but towards the end it seemed like it was forced, to try to explain everything
April 20, 2022
“All I know is that despite living in opulence at Stave House, there’s something very sorely missing in this household. I can’t put my finger on it, but I will.”
I was so excited to read my first Miranda Rijks book! A couple of fellow reviewers always rave about her books and now I know what they are talking about. I LOVED it. I didn’t know what direction the plot was going in, the twists came out of nowhere, the family was deplorable, and the knowledge that there was a secret about to be discovered kept me on my toes.
After marrying a wealthy, erudite man, 25 years her senior, Tamsin Featherstone struts into Stave House oblivious of the family drama her arrival will cause. You see, Tamsin is the second Mrs. Featherstone. Not only does she have to contend with the first Mrs. Featherstone, there are also the avaricious and entitled adult children to deal with, the nosey and snobbish housekeeper, Pavla and her family who live on the property, and Mia Benton, her husband’s latest assistant. Did I mention that her husband, 58-year-old Robin Featherstone, is a renowned composer with assets and a bank account to match? There’s A LOT at stake here.
When Robin’s sudden death pits family members against each other, readers see these capricious, gold-digging opportunists for what they really are! Who killed him? Who has the most to gain?
Just when you think you have it figured out, a long-buried secret surfaces and tips the precarious balance of family relations.
Like being on a roller coaster for the first time, I buckled up and prepared myself for a journey that I knew would be tension-filled, twisty and satisfying. Rijks delivered. I’m now hooked on her fast-paced domestic thrillers.
I was gifted this advance copy by Miranda Rijks, Inkubator Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I was so excited to read my first Miranda Rijks book! A couple of fellow reviewers always rave about her books and now I know what they are talking about. I LOVED it. I didn’t know what direction the plot was going in, the twists came out of nowhere, the family was deplorable, and the knowledge that there was a secret about to be discovered kept me on my toes.
After marrying a wealthy, erudite man, 25 years her senior, Tamsin Featherstone struts into Stave House oblivious of the family drama her arrival will cause. You see, Tamsin is the second Mrs. Featherstone. Not only does she have to contend with the first Mrs. Featherstone, there are also the avaricious and entitled adult children to deal with, the nosey and snobbish housekeeper, Pavla and her family who live on the property, and Mia Benton, her husband’s latest assistant. Did I mention that her husband, 58-year-old Robin Featherstone, is a renowned composer with assets and a bank account to match? There’s A LOT at stake here.
When Robin’s sudden death pits family members against each other, readers see these capricious, gold-digging opportunists for what they really are! Who killed him? Who has the most to gain?
Just when you think you have it figured out, a long-buried secret surfaces and tips the precarious balance of family relations.
Like being on a roller coaster for the first time, I buckled up and prepared myself for a journey that I knew would be tension-filled, twisty and satisfying. Rijks delivered. I’m now hooked on her fast-paced domestic thrillers.
I was gifted this advance copy by Miranda Rijks, Inkubator Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 4, 2023
Tamsin has recently married composer Robin Featherstone. Robin is much older but Tamsin doesn't care as she is in love with him. However Robin's first wife and children believe she is a gold digger.
Mia is Robin's cleaner who had trained to be a musician. They spend a lot of time together.
When Robin dies unexpectedly, Tamsin has a nasty surprise when the Will is read. As Mia and Tamsin are pitted against each other, the family will go to any lengths to stop either of them inheriting.
I loved this family drama and I kept changing my mind on who the culprit was.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mia is Robin's cleaner who had trained to be a musician. They spend a lot of time together.
When Robin dies unexpectedly, Tamsin has a nasty surprise when the Will is read. As Mia and Tamsin are pitted against each other, the family will go to any lengths to stop either of them inheriting.
I loved this family drama and I kept changing my mind on who the culprit was.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2022
I'm A big fan of Rijks'. I was so happy to be immediately hooked by this new story. Mia gets tangled into an accident when she walks in on her employer having a stroke. Then we meet Tamsin, who is the man's second wife and twenty-five years his senior. These two women clearly have pasts full of secrets and skeletons they don't want revealed.
Things slowed down quite a bit in this story, bogged down by back stories and musician talk that I felt could have been significantly shortened. Greed Greer's its ugly head and then the secrets begin coming to light, twists exploding. The ending was fantastic. A good domestic thriller.
Things slowed down quite a bit in this story, bogged down by back stories and musician talk that I felt could have been significantly shortened. Greed Greer's its ugly head and then the secrets begin coming to light, twists exploding. The ending was fantastic. A good domestic thriller.
May 21, 2022
When a wealthy composer dies leaving everything to a woman who is all but a stranger, it raises more than a few questions. Who is this woman? Did she kill him? Did the new wife? Or maybe it was the bitter ex-wife? Or was it the spoilt entitled adult children?
Mia is excited to be working for the renowned music composer Robin Featherstone, even if she is just a cleaner. For Mia is a violinist and had been studying at the Royal Music College when fate intervened putting a halt to her dreams. Now she is trying to find her feet again and as needs must she needs to pay the rent and put food on the table, even if it is just herself. So whilst dusting the furniture or polishing the silver, Mia loves listening to the music emanating from Robin's studio.
Then one day Robin returns with a young wife in tow, Tamsin, whom Mia has heard the family call a gold-digger. But Mia sees Robin's face light up whenever Tamsin enters the room, the ways his voice softens whenever he speaks about her. Whatever their age gap, Mia knows that Robin loves his new wife. Tamsin, she's not so sure about as the woman hardly spends a moment at Stave House. Robin has given her free reign of a credit card to shop to her heart's content and that, it seems, is what she is doing.
Robin has two grown children - a daughter Brooke, who appears to live on and off at Stave House whenever the mood takes her, and an estranged son David, whom Mia has never met and hasn't set foor here for a number of years. It appears father and son do not get along. And then there is Claudia, the opportunistic ex-wife. She's no longer married to Robin but she seems to spend an awful lot of time at Stave House with their daughter Brooke. In the midst of family affairs is the devoted housekeeper Pavla, a Czech-born woman who has worked for Robin for some twenty years. She lives in the cottage provided for her on the grounds with her husband Thomas, who is the estate's groundsman, and son Marek, who when he is assisting his father appears to be silently lurking.
Then one day, Mia discovers a barely conscious Robin clutching his chest on the floor of his studio and calls an ambulance. He has had a stroke. Upon returning home, Robin discovers Mia's love of music and that she is a violinist so employs her as his assistant while he recovers from the stroke. They spend hours talking about music as she makes notations to his manuscripts, as he is yet unable to. The family are jealous of Robin's sudden attention to the cleaner and Tamsin is livid to overhear her husband discussing his private affairs with her.
And then just as Robin is recovering from his stroke, Tamsin discovers his lifeless body at the foot of the stairs, having obviously fallen. She is distraught that her husband of barely a few months is dead. No matter what the family may think, Tamsin truly loved Robin...and now he was gone.
But further distress is to come when the will is read and they learn that Mia is the sole beneficiary of Robin's will and the family, including Tamsin, inherit nothing. Angered that everything is to go to a woman who is all but a stranger, the family decide to contest the will.
Mia is just as shocked at the contents of Robin's will and has no idea why he has left her with everything. Her solicitors advise her to move into Stave House as it is now her legal property but that means living also with Tamsin and, it seems, Brooke and her mother Claudia who have also decided to move in. Soon strange things begin to occur putting lives at risk, leaving everyone questioning the other. Mia and Tamsin find that they cannot trust anyone around them, least of all each other.
Is Tamsin the gold-digger the family think her to be? And is Mia the opportunist who coerced Robin into changing his will in her favour?
And then a dark family secret is revealed, changing everything...
This is my third Miranda Rijks thriller and I just love her engaging style and fast paced narrative. THE SECOND WIFE is a well written addictive thriller with a storyline that had me enthralled from the start. Filled with twist after twist, the reader is quickly immersed within the story as we watch the lives of each of the characters slowly unravel.
Told through the alternating narratives of Mia and Tamsin, THE SECOND WIFE may feel as if not much happens for much of the story but there is an undercurrent burning beneath the surface that certainly threatens to engulf them. But it very definitely has the reader guessing who is responsible. And when that reveal comes, I was partly shocked but not surprised, if that makes a kind of sense. I was heading in the same direction myself and then BAM! Everything happens at once and you're left with..."what just happened?"
But then it comes back to the question that had everyone asking in the beginning...why did Robin leave everything to Mia? It didn't make sense...until it did. I should have seen that coming but it blindsided me.
Overall, THE SECOND WIFE is an addictive domestic thriller and although it is not my favourite by the author, it is still a quick entertaining read. A fun story that I think others are sure to enjoy.
I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheSecondWife in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Mia is excited to be working for the renowned music composer Robin Featherstone, even if she is just a cleaner. For Mia is a violinist and had been studying at the Royal Music College when fate intervened putting a halt to her dreams. Now she is trying to find her feet again and as needs must she needs to pay the rent and put food on the table, even if it is just herself. So whilst dusting the furniture or polishing the silver, Mia loves listening to the music emanating from Robin's studio.
Then one day Robin returns with a young wife in tow, Tamsin, whom Mia has heard the family call a gold-digger. But Mia sees Robin's face light up whenever Tamsin enters the room, the ways his voice softens whenever he speaks about her. Whatever their age gap, Mia knows that Robin loves his new wife. Tamsin, she's not so sure about as the woman hardly spends a moment at Stave House. Robin has given her free reign of a credit card to shop to her heart's content and that, it seems, is what she is doing.
Robin has two grown children - a daughter Brooke, who appears to live on and off at Stave House whenever the mood takes her, and an estranged son David, whom Mia has never met and hasn't set foor here for a number of years. It appears father and son do not get along. And then there is Claudia, the opportunistic ex-wife. She's no longer married to Robin but she seems to spend an awful lot of time at Stave House with their daughter Brooke. In the midst of family affairs is the devoted housekeeper Pavla, a Czech-born woman who has worked for Robin for some twenty years. She lives in the cottage provided for her on the grounds with her husband Thomas, who is the estate's groundsman, and son Marek, who when he is assisting his father appears to be silently lurking.
Then one day, Mia discovers a barely conscious Robin clutching his chest on the floor of his studio and calls an ambulance. He has had a stroke. Upon returning home, Robin discovers Mia's love of music and that she is a violinist so employs her as his assistant while he recovers from the stroke. They spend hours talking about music as she makes notations to his manuscripts, as he is yet unable to. The family are jealous of Robin's sudden attention to the cleaner and Tamsin is livid to overhear her husband discussing his private affairs with her.
And then just as Robin is recovering from his stroke, Tamsin discovers his lifeless body at the foot of the stairs, having obviously fallen. She is distraught that her husband of barely a few months is dead. No matter what the family may think, Tamsin truly loved Robin...and now he was gone.
But further distress is to come when the will is read and they learn that Mia is the sole beneficiary of Robin's will and the family, including Tamsin, inherit nothing. Angered that everything is to go to a woman who is all but a stranger, the family decide to contest the will.
Mia is just as shocked at the contents of Robin's will and has no idea why he has left her with everything. Her solicitors advise her to move into Stave House as it is now her legal property but that means living also with Tamsin and, it seems, Brooke and her mother Claudia who have also decided to move in. Soon strange things begin to occur putting lives at risk, leaving everyone questioning the other. Mia and Tamsin find that they cannot trust anyone around them, least of all each other.
Is Tamsin the gold-digger the family think her to be? And is Mia the opportunist who coerced Robin into changing his will in her favour?
And then a dark family secret is revealed, changing everything...
This is my third Miranda Rijks thriller and I just love her engaging style and fast paced narrative. THE SECOND WIFE is a well written addictive thriller with a storyline that had me enthralled from the start. Filled with twist after twist, the reader is quickly immersed within the story as we watch the lives of each of the characters slowly unravel.
Told through the alternating narratives of Mia and Tamsin, THE SECOND WIFE may feel as if not much happens for much of the story but there is an undercurrent burning beneath the surface that certainly threatens to engulf them. But it very definitely has the reader guessing who is responsible. And when that reveal comes, I was partly shocked but not surprised, if that makes a kind of sense. I was heading in the same direction myself and then BAM! Everything happens at once and you're left with..."what just happened?"
But then it comes back to the question that had everyone asking in the beginning...why did Robin leave everything to Mia? It didn't make sense...until it did. I should have seen that coming but it blindsided me.
Overall, THE SECOND WIFE is an addictive domestic thriller and although it is not my favourite by the author, it is still a quick entertaining read. A fun story that I think others are sure to enjoy.
I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheSecondWife in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 11, 2024
Enjoyed listening to this book!! Kept me on my toes, the title did throw me off a bit. Doesn’t feel like it went with the story. Other than that I loved it, and how everything was answered.
April 27, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book, very hard for me to have to put it down!
It had a very surprising but also good ending!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
It had a very surprising but also good ending!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
April 21, 2022
This starts off so strong and doesn’t let up the entirety of the book! Although, some of the twists were somewhat predictable, one of them did throw me for a loop and left my mouth wide open. Loved it!
April 25, 2022
THE SECOND WIFE is Miranda Rijks at her very best! Told in alternating points of view from Tamsin, the second wife; and Mia, the hired help, this was a chilling tale of deception, revenge, and reckoning.
Tamsin is much younger than her husband Robin, and Robin's ex-wife and grown children write her off as a gold digger. But then Robin's health fails, and soon after, he suffers a fatal fall. Tamsin went from asking herself if being a caregiver was what she signed up for to congratulating herself for staying with Robin.
But then the will is read, and Tamsin is shocked to find out that she, along with the first wife and children, get nothing. Mia, the cleaner and Robin's assistant, gets everything. Soon the story morphs into a classic "whodunnit" with red herrings and sinister motives galore. I loved every bit of this twisted story that reminds us that "we may not always get what we want, but we always get what we deserve."
I always read the author's notes, and there is a beautiful tribute to her father, whom she recently lost. He sounds like a wonderful father, and I know he is proud.
Tamsin is much younger than her husband Robin, and Robin's ex-wife and grown children write her off as a gold digger. But then Robin's health fails, and soon after, he suffers a fatal fall. Tamsin went from asking herself if being a caregiver was what she signed up for to congratulating herself for staying with Robin.
But then the will is read, and Tamsin is shocked to find out that she, along with the first wife and children, get nothing. Mia, the cleaner and Robin's assistant, gets everything. Soon the story morphs into a classic "whodunnit" with red herrings and sinister motives galore. I loved every bit of this twisted story that reminds us that "we may not always get what we want, but we always get what we deserve."
I always read the author's notes, and there is a beautiful tribute to her father, whom she recently lost. He sounds like a wonderful father, and I know he is proud.
May 1, 2022
Drama thriller showcasing greed and family angst. A typical fast paced read by Miranda, which,as per her usual books, leaves you wondering throughout who's the bad guy.
Robin's family feel his new wife Tamsin is a gold digger, but no-one is more surprised than her that on his death he's left his entire estate to the cleaner. What secrets is Mia hiding and why would Robin leave her everything?
Can the estranged family put aside their differences and work together to contest the will and what will be the final outcome.
I have read a few of Miranda"s books know and just when I think I know what to expect she throws in a few red herrings to completely twist my thought processes, this book is no exception
Many thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and I'm under no obligation to leave them
Robin's family feel his new wife Tamsin is a gold digger, but no-one is more surprised than her that on his death he's left his entire estate to the cleaner. What secrets is Mia hiding and why would Robin leave her everything?
Can the estranged family put aside their differences and work together to contest the will and what will be the final outcome.
I have read a few of Miranda"s books know and just when I think I know what to expect she throws in a few red herrings to completely twist my thought processes, this book is no exception
Many thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and I'm under no obligation to leave them
May 16, 2022
This book was available to read on #NetGalley. Thank you for letting me read
4⭐️ for this one. The story was easy to get into and I found myself flying through the book. Oh how many times did I think I knew who did it… still I was wrong.
So the story is about the mysterious death of Robin Featherstone, married to his much younger second wife Tamsin, father of David and Brooke, ex husband to Claudia. The big question is, where does it leave Mia, hired to clean.
I found Robin a weird character. The only one I really liked was Mia. I will definitely read more by this author, definitely a recommendation:)
4⭐️ for this one. The story was easy to get into and I found myself flying through the book. Oh how many times did I think I knew who did it… still I was wrong.
So the story is about the mysterious death of Robin Featherstone, married to his much younger second wife Tamsin, father of David and Brooke, ex husband to Claudia. The big question is, where does it leave Mia, hired to clean.
I found Robin a weird character. The only one I really liked was Mia. I will definitely read more by this author, definitely a recommendation:)
May 21, 2022
wow, this book started off so strong and right into the drama/action.
it grabbed you in from the start
loved it
so many things going on and it keeps you wondering til the end
so many dark family secrets
didn't want to put this book down but had to adult lol
the ending was great, very well written
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
it grabbed you in from the start
loved it
so many things going on and it keeps you wondering til the end
so many dark family secrets
didn't want to put this book down but had to adult lol
the ending was great, very well written
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 27, 2022
The Second Wife by Miranda Rijks
8h 36m narrated by Penelope Rawlins, Jodie Harris, and Peter Noble (Prologue), 276 pages
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Featuring: England, Musicians, Gold Digging, Housekeeping, May December Romance, Multiple Character POVs, Drama, Family Feud
Rating as a movie: R for adult content and violence
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts: 📱25% 2:10:59 Ch. 8 - Mia reminds me of Millie from The Housemaid, but she's in a completely different setting and situation. It's very interesting but slow so far on the thriller side.
I was waiting for this story to get good but it never picked up. It's more drama than suspense and there wasn't anything psychological or thriller about it. The title is also odd as it's not about the second wife, although she's one of the main characters. The working title was The Inheritance, much better. The reveals and conclusion were lackluster. The author revealed she was grieving while writing this so I won't judge her other books on the content of this one.
Recommend to others?: It's your call, but I felt misled.
8h 36m narrated by Penelope Rawlins, Jodie Harris, and Peter Noble (Prologue), 276 pages
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Featuring: England, Musicians, Gold Digging, Housekeeping, May December Romance, Multiple Character POVs, Drama, Family Feud
Rating as a movie: R for adult content and violence
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts: 📱25% 2:10:59 Ch. 8 - Mia reminds me of Millie from The Housemaid, but she's in a completely different setting and situation. It's very interesting but slow so far on the thriller side.
I was waiting for this story to get good but it never picked up. It's more drama than suspense and there wasn't anything psychological or thriller about it. The title is also odd as it's not about the second wife, although she's one of the main characters. The working title was The Inheritance, much better. The reveals and conclusion were lackluster. The author revealed she was grieving while writing this so I won't judge her other books on the content of this one.
Recommend to others?: It's your call, but I felt misled.
April 23, 2022
The beginning is quite slow with very little dialogue (I love dialogue) but it does tie up very nicely at the end. Once the story got going I did really enjoy it and was not expecting that ending.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 22, 2022
This was an ok book . 1 part of the ending was easy to guess the other part was a surprise
April 25, 2022
I love a good domestic thriller and this one fits the bill! The novel jumps between two characters (Mia and Tamsin) that are trying to figure out what happened to Robin. While I really did get into the story, I feel as if it’s missing something.
As other reviews mentioned, it kinda just goes and then at the last second everything wraps up with a nice bow. It felt as if it came out of left field and not in a “oh wow that’s a twist”, but like a need to wrap it up way. It still is a very enjoyable read that I think is worth picking up!
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC :)
As other reviews mentioned, it kinda just goes and then at the last second everything wraps up with a nice bow. It felt as if it came out of left field and not in a “oh wow that’s a twist”, but like a need to wrap it up way. It still is a very enjoyable read that I think is worth picking up!
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC :)
May 29, 2022
The Second Wife is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. It's a taut, tense thriller that will suck you right in and keep you flipping pages, eager to uncover the truth as quickly as possible.
Tamsin is a young woman who has just married the man of her dreams. Sure, Robin is a bit older than her, but she doesn't care. He's a well-known (and well-respected) musician, and Tamsin wants for nothing. But there's one pesky thorn in her side -- Mia. Mia is the house cleaner, but she's also a violinist, so she and Robin bond over music. Tamsin is jealous and decides to fire her.
But being let go ends up working out well for Mia...until it doesn't.
Robin suddenly dies, and when his will is read, everyone is shocked, including Robin's ex-wife and children. But how far will they go to get what they feel is rightfully theirs? What secrets are Robin's family hiding? And can the truth really set them all free?
I really enjoyed this story. It was easy to get lost within the pages trying to figure out just who had the motive to do the bad things happening in the book. There were quite a few suspects, but in the end, I was both surprised and also not really surprised by how it played out.
I wasn't keen on Tamsin at first, but she grew on me as the book progressed. Mia was also a likeable character, even with her past. Robin's ex and kids were all kind of awful, but that's to be expected.
The plot is exciting. The mystery is engaging. And the overall story feels very real. You just know there are families out there who would probably kill for money/what they feel is rightfully theirs if a will didn't contain what they expected it to.
If you're a fan of the genre, definitely check out The Second Wife.
4.5 stars!
Tamsin is a young woman who has just married the man of her dreams. Sure, Robin is a bit older than her, but she doesn't care. He's a well-known (and well-respected) musician, and Tamsin wants for nothing. But there's one pesky thorn in her side -- Mia. Mia is the house cleaner, but she's also a violinist, so she and Robin bond over music. Tamsin is jealous and decides to fire her.
But being let go ends up working out well for Mia...until it doesn't.
Robin suddenly dies, and when his will is read, everyone is shocked, including Robin's ex-wife and children. But how far will they go to get what they feel is rightfully theirs? What secrets are Robin's family hiding? And can the truth really set them all free?
I really enjoyed this story. It was easy to get lost within the pages trying to figure out just who had the motive to do the bad things happening in the book. There were quite a few suspects, but in the end, I was both surprised and also not really surprised by how it played out.
I wasn't keen on Tamsin at first, but she grew on me as the book progressed. Mia was also a likeable character, even with her past. Robin's ex and kids were all kind of awful, but that's to be expected.
The plot is exciting. The mystery is engaging. And the overall story feels very real. You just know there are families out there who would probably kill for money/what they feel is rightfully theirs if a will didn't contain what they expected it to.
If you're a fan of the genre, definitely check out The Second Wife.
4.5 stars!
June 17, 2022
This is my first book by MIranda Rijks and will not be my last! I love a good family drama full of angsty characters and this book did not disappoint. This book is told from multiple points of view, alternating between Mia and Tamsin as they try to figure out who killed Robin.
The characters are well developed and realistic. The family reacts how I imagine a family would when soemone unexpected inherits everything. I was immediately hooked and could not put this book down. Much like the other reivews I've read, I did not see the final twist and it's a doozy!
I highly recommend this book to all psyhoclogical thriller lovers!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Inkubator books, Miranda Rijks, and Zooloos Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
The characters are well developed and realistic. The family reacts how I imagine a family would when soemone unexpected inherits everything. I was immediately hooked and could not put this book down. Much like the other reivews I've read, I did not see the final twist and it's a doozy!
I highly recommend this book to all psyhoclogical thriller lovers!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Inkubator books, Miranda Rijks, and Zooloos Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
April 21, 2022
This book was very disappointing, overall, due to the fact that it ends with a definite fizzle instead of a bang.
The story follows Tamsin, the second wife of a famous composer, and Mia, a violinist who works as a maid in the composer's house. When he dies under somewhat suspicious circumstances, he leaves all of his money to Mia, leaving Tamsin and his two grown children with absolutely nothing. This sets up an interesting premise and while I applaud the author for having both characters be very much less than perfect, it takes far too long for the two of them to start combining their knowledge which leaves a lot of circling around the drain before the action kicks into gear.
I won't go into detail on the ending because that would include spoilers, but I was very disappointed with how the mystery wraps up. It doesn't feel very earned and it's also not a very big moment in the grand scheme of things. The additional add on to the end does not help matters either - it's all very convenient and not very exciting.
This also may be a bit of nit pick but the book is called The Second Wife but all of the biggest moments happen to Mia, not Tamsin, who feels like an afterthought somewhat in most of the book.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Tamsin, the second wife of a famous composer, and Mia, a violinist who works as a maid in the composer's house. When he dies under somewhat suspicious circumstances, he leaves all of his money to Mia, leaving Tamsin and his two grown children with absolutely nothing. This sets up an interesting premise and while I applaud the author for having both characters be very much less than perfect, it takes far too long for the two of them to start combining their knowledge which leaves a lot of circling around the drain before the action kicks into gear.
I won't go into detail on the ending because that would include spoilers, but I was very disappointed with how the mystery wraps up. It doesn't feel very earned and it's also not a very big moment in the grand scheme of things. The additional add on to the end does not help matters either - it's all very convenient and not very exciting.
This also may be a bit of nit pick but the book is called The Second Wife but all of the biggest moments happen to Mia, not Tamsin, who feels like an afterthought somewhat in most of the book.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2022
I hate to say it but this book was bad. Like bad BAD! No suspense, no feeling, like did not pull one emotion out of me except boredom. I hate when an author is just telling you how to feel, you should draw those emotions out of me with your writing! The whole storyline felt predictable - the second wife is 25 years younger, ex wife and children suspects shes a gold digger, husband gets pushed down the stairs…
Even when major events were taking place they were so anti-climatic and short lived. I don’t know what the point of building up to those moments even was if they were going to be so bland. Most scenarios just felt so ridiculous like i was watching a bad acting scene. Would not recommend 👎🏼😴😣
Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Even when major events were taking place they were so anti-climatic and short lived. I don’t know what the point of building up to those moments even was if they were going to be so bland. Most scenarios just felt so ridiculous like i was watching a bad acting scene. Would not recommend 👎🏼😴😣
Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 8, 2022
Oh my god, where do I start with this book?! It had me hooked from the start! Had me constantly siding with one character, then had me questioning it and siding with the other characters. 70% into it I just didn't know who to believe and I just love it when books do this to me. This is an author I will definitely be reading more from and recommending to other people.
Thank you Netgalley UK for letting me read an advanced copy of this book
Thank you Netgalley UK for letting me read an advanced copy of this book
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