Wife, Mother, Liar by Sue Watson

Wife, Mother, Liar – Sue Watson

Someone is lying. Someone knows the truth. Someone is going to pay…

Wife: I couldn’t be prouder of my charming husband and quiet and kind son. I’ve poured everything into my little family, so I choose to ignore my husband’s late-night phone calls and wandering eye. I won’t let anything ruin my perfect life…

Mother: I tried so hard to have a baby, so when my precious little boy was born, I vowed to do anything to protect him. Now a teenager, he’s making his own decisions, like getting close to my best friend Jill’s daughter. Looking smart in a brand-new navy suit, I watch as he leaves for prom with her. I may be smiling, but inside my head I’m screaming at him to stay away from her…

Liar: Hours later, as flashing police lights slice the darkness around my house, my worst nightmare becomes a reality, and my perfect world comes crashing down. Can I trust anyone at all? My husband hasn’t been truthful, my best friend has been hiding something from me, and my son isn’t as innocent as I thought. But none of their secrets compares to the one I’ve been keeping…

It started with a lie. It will end in murder…

Review

Messy friendships, unhealed wounds, and a relentless search for the truth.

Wife, Mother, Liar delves deep into the complexities of grief and the toll it takes on a mother’s mind. Jill is a woman shattered by the loss of her husband and son. As she struggles to navigate her pain, her tenuous grasp on reality begins to falter, leaving everyone (and us!) questioning her perceptions. She teeters on the edge of despair and paranoia, grappling with the dual betrayals of her past and her obsessive need to find someone—anyone—to blame for her son’s death.

At its heart, the book is about how messy friendships can become, particularly when layered with unresolved feelings and hidden betrayals.

As Jill’s grip on reality loosens, the lines between guilt and paranoia start to blur, creating a great psychological suspense vibe; add to that the dynamic between Jill and Wendy, told through alternating POV chapters, which adds layers of tension.

Though the book doesn’t particularly call out to me as ‘wow! A new favourite!’ I think it’s still a worthwhile read and enjoyed the darker elements/scenes that the author included (the shed 👀.)