The Fake Wife
- Judith D Collins
- Apr 12
- 5 min read
By: Emily Shiner
ISBN: 9781805509127
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 05/11/2026
Format: e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
BLOG TOUR STOP
As I watch Darren bury his wife’s body in the backyard, I know I need to act fast. I’m going to be her replacement. He’ll never know what’s coming…
The next day, I smile down at Darren in bed next to me. When he wakes up, I’m going to tell him I’m his new wife. I’ll keep this beautiful house clean and host the most fabulous dinner parties.
He’ll wonder what’s going on. He’ll wonder how I got into his house. We both know I’m not really his wife. But he will never be able to get rid of me.
Before she died, I watched Britt and Darren for longer than I care to admit. I knew her favorite white wine. I know Darren’s weekly tee time. I also know about the cheating. And the lies they told each other on their wedding day…
You might think I’m a woman in love, obsessed with someone else’s husband.
Or you might think I’m here to avenge Britt’s death.
All I know is, handsome and powerful men like Darren think they can get away with anything.
But he’s so, so wrong…
A totally gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up all night! The Fake Wife is perfect for fans of The Perfect Marriage, John Marrs and Freida McFadden.
About the Author
Emily Shiner grew up in Western North Carolina, and after going to college in Charlotte, returned to her beloved mountains to write novels that keep you up at night. She lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, menagerie of chickens, and tens of thousands of bees. When not writing, she’s reading, hiking, or drinking copious amounts of tea while daydreaming about fall. WEBSITE
My Review
"Gaslighting at its finest—pure popcorn thriller perfection!"
The Fake Wife by Emily Shiner is a dazzling psychological thriller revolving around a woman who witnesses Darren bury his wife, Britt, and then moves in to replace her. The twisty plot involves the stalker taking over the dead wife's life, Darren's realization of the situation, and the reveal of deep-seated lies regarding the cheating and murders.
Core triangle —Darren, the Real Britt, and the Fake Britt
If you’re looking for a book that you can devour in a single afternoon without needing to take notes or overthink the plot, "The Fake Wife is your next read." It’s a classic popcorn thriller: high on drama, low on complexity, and perfectly entertaining for a rainy weekend!
The🍿Lowdown:
~Vibe: Dark, Messy, & High-Octane
~Trope: The Gaslit Killer / The Replacement Wife
~Mood: Claustrophobic & Unpredictable
~Read Style: One-Sitting Binge Popcorn thriller
~Pacing: Fast and relentless
~The Twist: She still knows how to pull the rug out from under you!
My thoughts...
"The Gaslighter getting Gaslit." It’s that dark, karmic justice that makes Shiner’s "morally gray" setups so bingeable."
In The Fake Wife, gaslighting is the primary engine of the plot, but with a brilliant "villain vs. villain" twist that makes it a perfect popcorn thriller. Being a devoted fan having read all her books, Emily Shiner loves to flip the script on power.
~The Ultimate Uno Reverse: Usually, the "husband" in domestic noir is the one gaslighting the wife. Here, Shiner turns the tables. Darren (a successful lawyer who should be in control) is the one being psychologically dismantled in his own home.
~Weaponizing Intimacy: The "Fake Britt" gaslights Darren by performing his wife’s most private habits—making Darren question his own sanity (and his own crime).
~Public vs. Private Gaslighting: The most effective gaslighting happens in front of people like Astrid and Cora. Darren looks like the "unstable" one if he tries to deny her identity to their friends.
~The "Secret" Leverage: The most delicious part of the gaslighting is that Darren can’t call it out. To expose her as an imposter, he’d have to admit why he knows she isn't Britt—by confessing to the murder.
The twisty cat-and-mouse game and wicked secrets will keep readers guessing whether the fake wife is truly obsessed with Darren or is there to avenge Britt's death. Darren, who was previously in total control of his life, becomes a prisoner in his own home and secret.
The author delivers a masterclass in domestic suspense that challenges the concept of "till death do us part." It’s a psychological chess match where one player has a knife, and the other has a secret.
What I Loved:
~The Hook: A killer being gaslit by a stranger? Sign me up.
~Speed: I flew through this in an afternoon.
~The Ending: It definitely delivers on the "jaw-dropping" promise Shiner is known for.
It’s the literary equivalent of a 2:00 AM true-crime binge: you know it’s over-the-top, you know it’s messy, but you absolutely cannot look away until the final rug-pull.
"Emily Shiner’s The Fake Wife is a 5-star roller-coaster!
From the moment Darren buries his wife to the second a stranger takes her place, the tension never lets up. It’s dark, deliciously messy, and features a final twist that will leave your jaw on the floor. If you love fast-paced thrillers where no one is who they seem, add this to your TBR immediately!"
~"Classic Shiner":
High-concept hook with a relentless pace.
~"Comfort Thriller":
You know the formula, you love the formula, and she delivers it again.
~"The Shiner Signature":
Short chapters, unlikable leads, and a "gotcha" final page.
~"Consistency is Key":
Like The Secret Wife or The Second Wife, it hits all the familiar beats.
Best for: People who want a reliable, twisty thriller that doesn't require a detective board to follow.
Takeaway:
"Having read her entire catalog and being a fan, my main takeaway is that Shiner remains the "queen of the domestic hook." No matter how much power you think you have (like Darren), it can be dismantled by someone who knows your secrets. Your home is only a sanctuary until someone else holds the keys to your cage.
Join me on my blog for a fun Blog Tour Stop on pub day, May 11!
Recs...
THE FAKE WIFE is for Shiner's fans and those who enjoyed her The Wife in the Photo or The Secret Wife. Also for fans of My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney, Freida McFadden, Kim Slater, and Jeneva Rose.
Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for graciously sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: May 11, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
Blog Tour Stop (5/11)
