It was ok. Nothing special about this, no plot really, no twist and it sort of meanders it’s way to an inevitable end. Listened to audiobook so maybe it was the narrator that made it sound relatively dull.

Merged review:

It was ok. Nothing special about this, no plot really, no twist and it sort of meanders it’s way to an inevitable end. Listened to audiobook so maybe it was the narrator that made it sound relatively dull.

2.5 stars

I know I am not the end all to what makes a good book or not. However, I have read many thrillers. There wasn't one point in this book where I got the thriller aspect of this book.

The characters are not likable or relatable. They are weak and weird. Their relationship, or lack their of, never made sense from the beginning. 

The plot is this book is the slowest, uneventful story I have read in a long time. The plot has no twists, no turns, no unpredictability. I saw everything coming long before it happened. There is no true climax, falling action or resolution. None of them. The story moves slowly with no real purpose.

When I first started this book, this wasn't the review I thought I would be writing. But, here I am, disappointed.

I have seen some of the rave reviews. Did we read the same book? I completely get that not every book is not for everyone. However, this one is not anywhere near a book I would call a thriller. 

Obviously this premise was going to speak to me. I am fascinated with the whole death row thing, as well as the women who marry these men there. Surreal, crazy stuff. I very briefly skimmed this synopsis and gave it a shot, and I have no regrets.

The Innocent Wife is an extremely absorbing read. It gets cracking really quickly, and doesn't waste your time. The plot pacing is a little all over the show because it starts with a bang, and while it remains engrossing, the middle section feels a little all over the show. That does not hurt the read though, as it is engaging and a super fast read. I really enjoyed the premise of this one (I mean we have all watched documentaries about convicted murderers/wrongfully convicted folks and everyone has an opinion on the death penalty), and felt at times it was a little predictable, but not too often, so it makes for a super immersive read.

Sam is a character who initially comes across as insipid and weak, and then when you see later is actually a hot mess in life. She is a particular brand of strange, because she pushes people away, has a super mean streak that bubbles to the surface from time to time, is super jealous and she lives in her head and shuts out the world. She also made Dennis her life, her whole world, and that is just sad. The relationship between Dennis and Sam is an odd one, and he is a cruel bastard to her at times, but she, too, is just weird. They are not particularly well suited for one another, and yet you want to read all there is to read about their twisted romance.

I did like the way that the book was structured, skipping between a book that was written about Dennis Danson and the accusations levelled against him, as well as letters between him and Sam, and then to what is going on between them in real life. It definitely works to keep up suspense. The book is really well written and lingers with you when you (sadly) have to go about your day to day (read: job that pays your bills) activities. I just wanted to read!

I am impressed that The Innocent Wife is Amy Lloyd's first novel, and will most certainly be keeping my eyes peeled to see what else she comes up with in the future. I would say that this book is well worth the read!

I got this book as my free gift when I joined the Golsboro book of the month scheme about a year ago. Finally got round to reading it. Its basic premise - a man has been convicted dubiously and is currently sitting in prison in the US, is an interesting enough premise. It has the workings of a solid procedural thriller in unravelling how he came to be there. I am a fan of procedural thrillers - so far so good.

Where this book falls flat for me is the second hook it tries to work - a romance from a pen pal to the convicted murderer. The fact that murderers do appear to get 'fan' mail in real life I have always found bizarre. I can kind of get how the story tries to establish that the dynamic builds from a position of seeing a documentary about the dubious conviction, but how quickly it develops into a marriage just feels strange. Then when we come to the marriage itself, their chemistry is completely flat. I have never seen a story where a newly wed couple are that disinterested in one another. I am not a fan of romance novels, I tend to find them painful to read in a cringey and awkward kind of way. I get that people in love are cringey and awkward, I just don't want to read about it. This novel manages to take that and make it cringey, awkward and just plain boring. When the relationship between these two characters is the center point of the book to have their relationship this flat and boring makes the whole book frustrating to read.

The twist at the end is interesting enough, and this story feeds into the whole 'Making a Murderer' craze that has happened recently. Unfortunately the book failed to engage me enough for me to provide any recommendation for it though.

Merged review:

I got this book as my free gift when I joined the Golsboro book of the month scheme about a year ago. Finally got round to reading it. Its basic premise - a man has been convicted dubiously and is currently sitting in prison in the US, is an interesting enough premise. It has the workings of a solid procedural thriller in unravelling how he came to be there. I am a fan of procedural thrillers - so far so good.

Where this book falls flat for me is the second hook it tries to work - a romance from a pen pal to the convicted murderer. The fact that murderers do appear to get 'fan' mail in real life I have always found bizarre. I can kind of get how the story tries to establish that the dynamic builds from a position of seeing a documentary about the dubious conviction, but how quickly it develops into a marriage just feels strange. Then when we come to the marriage itself, their chemistry is completely flat. I have never seen a story where a newly wed couple are that disinterested in one another. I am not a fan of romance novels, I tend to find them painful to read in a cringey and awkward kind of way. I get that people in love are cringey and awkward, I just don't want to read about it. This novel manages to take that and make it cringey, awkward and just plain boring. When the relationship between these two characters is the center point of the book to have their relationship this flat and boring makes the whole book frustrating to read.

The twist at the end is interesting enough, and this story feeds into the whole 'Making a Murderer' craze that has happened recently. Unfortunately the book failed to engage me enough for me to provide any recommendation for it though.

I never really enjoy "hot new crime thriller of the minute!" books but am apparently incapable of remembering this. This was... faintly ridiculous, and both the main characters were intensely annoying.

This is such a classic beach book in my opinion, with all the components of a great read. I loved the suspense of learning Sam's story as the book progressed, but I found Dennis to be very predictable.

I enjoyed the unique element of a death row romance. Thrillers like this can feel quite repetitive so I appreciate the originality.