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The Wives  By  cover art

The Wives

By: Tarryn Fisher
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
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Publisher's summary

An Instant Bestseller!

The New York Times | USA Today | The Globe and Mail | The Toronto Star

New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher delivers a pulse-pounding, fast-paced suspense novel that will leave you breathless. A thriller you won’t be able to put down!

Imagine that your husband has two other wives.

You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, and because of this unconventional arrangement, you can see your husband only one day a week. But you love him so much you don’t care. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself.

But one day, while you’re doing laundry, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket—an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you just know it’s another of the wives.

You thought you were fine with your arrangement, but you can’t help yourself: you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are. Then Hannah starts showing up to your coffee dates with telltale bruises, and you realize she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. But you’ve never known him to be violent, ever.

Who exactly is your husband, and how far would you be willing to go to find out?

And who is his mysterious third wife?

“Nail-biting, heart-clenchingly good.”—New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Torre

“[A] lightning-fast plot.”—Kirkus

“Suspense fans will be rewarded.”—Publishers Weekly

“Some sharp twists.”—Booklist

Don’t miss An Honest Lie, the next gripping, unpauseable, twist-filled thriller from Tarryn Fisher!

Looking for more great books by Tarryn Fisher? Be sure to check out The Wrong Family

©2019 Tarryn Fisher (P)2019 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

What listeners say about The Wives

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    7,018
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    4,283
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    2,437
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Story
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    1 out of 5 stars

Unlikeable main character, author cheats

I bought this novel because it had many good reviews as a thriller (one of my favorite genres) and one reviewer compared it to Gone Girl, which is one of my all-time favorites, a true masterpiece. I figured that if this was anything like Gone Girl it had to be fabulous. Sigh. So wrong.

One neutral thing I'll say up front is that this novel is clearly targeted at a female audience, unlike Gone Girl, which had extremely broad targeting and appeal. I'm a late-middle-age guy, so this novel had one small strike against it for me through little or no fault of its own. The only 'good' thing I'll say about this novel is that it held my attention well enough that I finished it, as I really did want to know how it ended. Another big mistake.

The first major criticism I have is that the 'heroine' of the story is an utter idiot, constantly getting into trouble through her own carelessness and stupidity. It's impossible to root for a character who does one dumb thing after another. Over and over as I read, I wanted to scream at this lady, "Don't DO that you jerk!" This was not a novel about a woman cast into hard circumstances and battling her way out through her own spunk and cleverness. Rather, this was a novel about a woman digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole through her own 'bad choices' (an understatement).

I promise that my next comment is not a spoiler; it's just my opinion about the ending, given in vague generalities. I admit that the premise and promise were wonderful, driving me to keep reading so I could find out how it all resolves. In short, I trusted the author to pull off a great twist or other satisfying conclusion. And clearly, it was the author's intention to deliver a shocking surprise ending. Unfortunately, the only reason the ending was a surprise is that the author repeatedly lied to the reader during the novel, misleading the reader in ways that I believe most people would call massively unfair. It's as if the reader sees a character get a letter that's printed on red paper, and only at the end do we learn that the paper was actually blue. The author shows us things through the main character's eyes that at the end we are told were not really what she/we saw. I'm sorry, but that's cheating, plain and simple. I was so angry at the ending that I immediately sat down and pounded out this review. I can't believe I wasted all those hours not only being frustrated with the 'heroine's' stupidity as she did one bone-headed thing after another, but when the end finally came it was a horrendous letdown and a revelation that the author had lied and cheated all the way through. Honestly, I wish I could give this book a negative star rating.

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429 people found this helpful

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Awful.

This book made me angry. The depiction of the female as weak and useless is off putting and to use mental illness in this way is really quite lazy and despicable. Don’t waste a credit.

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414 people found this helpful

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Seriously?

This book had so much potential... but the ending was ridiculous. Sort of like when you wrote stories for school in the fifth grade and ended it with "and it was all a dream" when you dont know what else to do. Nine hours of my life that I will never get back. Narration, however, was very good - can't blame her for reading a terrible book.

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339 people found this helpful

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Unbelievable

Not a very believable story. Watch out for the crude language if the constant F bombs are not your style in books. Not sure why I finished it. This book is a reminder to myself to check out the author and see what other books they have written before deciding to read one of their books.

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186 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

What a story!!

I don't even know what to say or how to review this book. I expected a story that was a bit off the rails but The Wives was off the rails and was set in fire! I am beyond floored. The first 50% of the story was a nice set up and showing you this nice neat box. Ha! Tarryn Fisher must not like nice or neat because she took that box and played basketball ball with it and then set it on fire. Everything I thought I knew, I didn't. I mean, woah!

The narration by Lauren Fortgang was amazing. She portrayed Thursday to a T. Her narration mixed with the way Mrs. Fisher writes was stunning. It came to life. Just a very messed up life that will shock all listeners!!!

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167 people found this helpful

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WTF?!?

I don’t know who is reviewing these books on Audible, but the 5 star reviews for this book I are completely false!! This book was terrible, the plot ridiculous and the writing was just, plain bad. A lot of useless details and and overly descriptive text about nothing. The ending was just dumb. I can’t believe I wasted an Audible credit on this silly book!

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127 people found this helpful

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Don’t believe the good reviews.

This book is extremely annoying and not worth your time. Had I known it had to do with mental illness warping reality, I would have done a hard pass.

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103 people found this helpful

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✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

I love a book that has me excited and makes me want to discuss it the entire time I'm listening. This one had me coming up with all kinds of theories and that ending was perfect along with the narration! Can't wait for bookclub so I can talk about it with others!

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75 people found this helpful

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What the ACTUAL......!?!

Oh my lanta! What did I just listen too?!?

This is by far one of the most effed up books I’ve listened to in quite awhile. In the MOST delicious way! In true Tarryn fashion, she hooks you, reals you in, and kills you slowly.

I really thought I knew how this book was going, I was wrong. So very wrong.

The twists turns one takes on the journey to the end of this book are without a doubt, jarring. Be prepared for gasps, hand to mouth in astonishment, and lots of OMGs.

So far, this is my favorite Tarryn Fisher book....and I’ve read all of them.

Whether you buy a hard copy, an ebook, or choose to listen to it like I did, this is a MUST read!!

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72 people found this helpful

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Frustrating with a satisfying ending

I loved this story, it had my on the edge of my seat the whole time I was listening (in almost an anxiety enduring way). Towards the end of the book I started getting really disappointed by the way it was ending, but the few minutes left me very satisfied for the main character.

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49 people found this helpful

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  • Melanie Preston Lewis
  • 01-12-20

Messed with - my head is!

I daren't look in the mirror, just in case I have my head on inside out and upside down. This book will mess with your mind, big time. As the story unfolds, you realise all the things you thought you knew, you, in fact, didn't know at all. Actually, everything is rearranged and nothing is where you thought it should be, no one is who you think they are and I've been keeping a sharp eye on the sun, in case it starts rising in the North and setting in the South. It may be that I'm now going downstairs instead of upstairs to bed, night is definitely not following day and two wrongs suddenly do make a right. This book will take every assumption you ever made about polygamy and polygamists and turn it into a 6 foot white rabbit called Harvey who will follow you around everywhere but no one will be able to see him except you. And, here's the crux of the matter, all this back to front, upside down, inside outedness will feel completely right and you're going to love it. Confused? Listen to The Wives by Tarryn Fisher and all will be clear. 5 moons from me!

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  • None
  • 04-13-20

Great and Unusual Psychological Thriller

I really enjoyed this book, it was quite a different plot from the usual psychological thriller. A story about polygamy and betrayal, I was gripped and did not see the end twist. I will look out for this author's next book

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Em&Me
  • 02-08-20

Excellent start, then takes a swerve.

Before I bought this title I read the reviews and it seems to be divisive; in general people love it or hate it whereas I didn’t feel strongly either way.

The story starts well, the first half of the novel is pacey, the protagonists and their lives are well described and there is the right balance of information and action to engage the listener.

Then halfway through the book takes a sudden swerve. I appreciate a good plot twist but this is just odd. From there onwards the story takes lots of twists and turns, the story telling stays strong, which holds everything together and it stays listenable. In contrast to the first half of novel which was well planned and considered its as though the author had loads of ideas and just threw them out. Yes, a good plot twist can really make a story unforgettable but this had so many that it seemed unnecessary and overdone.

Still, it is worth listening to and could have been an unforgettable novel if the second half of the story had maintained the pace and plot development of the first half.

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  • Susachacha
  • 01-17-21

what absolute nonsense

so confused by all the high reviews this book got. I was expecting a very clever twist. Nope... a very unsatisfying ending.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 01-05-21

I loved the twists

For the first half of the book I wanted to gouge out my eyes in frustration, the only thing that kept me going was the previous reviews I read about it.
And all I can say is that, I'm glad I finished it because...WOW..
Now that I have finished the book, I feel like I will enjoy it much more reading it the second time.
Though I feel like the final chapter was unnecessary.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 10-17-20

Gripping

Finished the book in 2 days. Has so many twists and turns. This is the first book I gave listened to by the author and I gave just downloaded another one

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • FreakyLizard
  • 02-28-20

It was OK...

It was quite long winded and could have been cut a little shorter. What I liked about it was that you don't know who to trust all the way through the story.
It was ok...

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-21-20

That is one good book!

You are going to love this book, i promise!
I had people over and i just wanted them to go home so i could go on listening to this book 😊
Good narrater also, very nice to listen to.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • JACQUI
  • 02-02-20

well worth listen

narrator was awesome easy to listen to
story kept me interested
unpredictable.... twist at the end.
listen.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Emma
  • 01-17-20

loved it!

amazing twists!! i could not stop listening! enjoyed the narrator too she was quite eery!

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 02-02-20

Mixed Bag

I did enjoy this book but found the ending to be..mehhh. It might just do it for some but for me left me feeling silly for supporting her all the way. There didnt seem to be any reason explored for why some of these characters acted the way they did. Maybe its me that just missed it, but there you have it
The narration was excellent however.

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7 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 02-06-20

Satisfying

I enjoyed the story however I found the writer was too long winded and over descriptive. I found myself loosing interest and fast forwarding a lot of the irrelevant text to get to the actual story line.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Charlotte E
  • 01-18-20

Couldn’t stop listening

I really got into this book. The characters and storyline drew me in but I had to listen through headphones as it wasn’t suitable for my children to catch and earful of. I actually wasn’t disappointed by the ending.

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3 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Shelley rowlands
  • 04-10-20

Not worth the time or money

I don’t recommend this book- I finished it only because I can’t not ( my problem). The story is flimsy, the writing poor and the characters all unlikeable and extremely thinly drawn. Who knows why anyone would like Seth except that he’s apparently charming although there is no evidence of that in the book. The ultimate premise used to explain the ‘ twists and turns’ is not clever; more akin to ‘ it was all a dream’ The medical aspects of the book ( of which there are many) are also largely inaccurate- lazy not to research properly. There are a heap of better audible books.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Hatty
  • 03-21-20

Disappointing

I can handle the repetitive phrasing. However it was disappointing and frustrating that it isn’t about what it says it’s about. Easy cop out ‘twist’.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Gary Baxter
  • 01-19-20

entertaining

I thought the narration was great, a couple of tiny mistakes but that's being really fussy. Great descriptive writing. even though the end wasn't what I expected or hoped it was entertaining the whole way through. can recommend it. well done Tarryn.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 08-13-23

Great read

I couldn’t wait to listen to this every day, it was an excellent story. Some silly parts, and eyebrow raisers. Loved it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Georgiana Amelia
  • 07-19-23

The Wives

A good well paced read that I really enjoyed. Twists and turns everywhere but an easy read.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Anastasia Lyons
  • 05-10-23

Triggering

The story carried me all the way through to the end. Very good. Was a bit triggering in some parts.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-25-21

Just OK

I had thought, while listening, that it was shaping up to be a good book. But I got to the last few chapters and the ending starts to unfold and it’s just stupid. Absolutely terrible and ridiculous ending and explanation.

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