The Mother-In-Law

A good story but way to much back and forth between characters and way too much descriptions over minutos details.

I accidentally ordered this book but decided to keep and read it. Overall a good book.

This was my very first novel by this author. I love psychological thrillers and was looking to broaden my horizons a bit.My feelings about this book are very mixed. Other than a couple typos, it was well written. The characters were complex and well developed. It was definitely an interesting story and kept me guessing. The ending was very satisfying.But this book also had some major negatives. I did not like how this book was structured. It jumped around way too much between the present and the past. It also switched point of view between Diana and Lucy. I think it would have been to tell it from one person's point of view. The past could have been told in the form of a journal or a series of letters. The way it kept jumping back and forth made it difficult to keep track of whose mind we were in and when.I also did not like the murder/suicide aspect. It wasn't overly graphic, but it was still hard to read at time.By the end, I had it narrowed down to 3 possible suspects. One of them was correct. I even predicted the correct motive. So it wasn't that surprising. In fact, it was a little too obvious. The suspense definitely could have been amped up quite a bit. Most of the time, it felt more like a soap opera than a thriller.Secondly, the character of Diana was not the least bit likeable. She was cold and distant and not at all warm or friendly. Yes, she did get somewhat of a redemption arc at the end, but honestly, it felt very forced and just not believeable.This book wasn't completely awful, but it wasn't spectacular or memorable either. In fact, it was pretty forgettable. I may read more by this author, but she isn't one I want to read all of her books.

In less than a month, I've devoured my second Sally Hepworth novel, and once again, I found myself unable to put it down. "The mother-in-law" seamlessly blends an easy reading experience with a gripping narrative, drawing readers into its world of suspense and intrigue. Despite its murder storyline, Hepworth manages to maintain a light and engaging tone throughout, making it a truly enjoyable read.What strikes me most about Hepworth's writing is her ability to craft characters that feel real and relatable, each with their own complexities and secrets. As the plot unfolds, she skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping readers guessing until the very end.I found myself eagerly turning the pages, eager to unravel the mystery and discover the truth behind the chilling events that unfold. Hepworth's pacing is spot on, never allowing the story to stagnate or lose momentum.As I reluctantly reached the final pages, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for Hepworth's next book that I already purchased. Her novels are like literary comfort food—satisfying, addictive, and always leaving you wanting more.

A little hard to evaluate. Each chapter is told from different main characters point of view, which makes the story easy to follow. The mother-in-law was the most complicated person to understand and she is the one who fuels all the problems. The rest of her family manage to deal with her personality; some better than others. She thinks she’s doing the right things, but her attempt to do so plays havoc with her family. I definitely wanted to get to the ending but it was hard to read.