The last few thrillers I’ve read have been 🥱😴 so I’ll admit I was a little hesitant to start The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. I like my thrillers to be fast, thoughtless page-turners that keep me entertained, but are quick to get through. I don’t want to think about who might have done what, or for the twist to be super obvious; I just want to power read and be satisfied at the end of it. And friends, that’s exactly how I felt with this one 🙌

The story follows Jane, a dog-walker working in an affluent neighborhood, as she’s trying to reinvent herself and leave her past behind. After almost being hit by a car, she falls for the driver, Eddie, and quickly finds herself in a serious relationship. Eddie, recently widowed, is taking care of his late wife’s multi-million dollar business, and not everyone in the community thinks he’s totally innocent. Sure, sometimes the husband is the prime suspect, but in a wealthy neighborhood full of gossip, is anyone really safe?

The Wife Upstairs puts a modern twist on the Gothic thriller, and the setting (Alabama), sets the tone for the story. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, the quick, easy pace, and how the ending was wrapped up but left just enough wiggle room to wonder what actually happened.

If you’re looking for a new thriller to read, I highly suggest checking this one out. I’ve seen some reviews say that it’s very predictable and not original, but I’ve never read Jean Eyre (the classic it’s based on), so I didn’t feel that way. But fair warning to those who have!

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for sending me a digital ARC via NetGalley. The Wife Upstairs came out on January 5, 2021, and is available wherever books are sold.