The Housewife
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
"Natalie Barelli delivers every time." -- Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"THIS is how you write an original main character!" -- Iliana Xander, author of Love, Mom
From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams with the express purpose of becoming his worst nightmare.
Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.
When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy's past appears--obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah's death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.
But Jodie won't be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined--and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.
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Community Reviews
The Housewife
by Natalie Barelli
Vigilante Justice
Natalie Barelli’s The Housewife is an absolute masterclass in unhinged, addictive domestic suspense, earning every single one of its 5 stars!
When Jodie marries wealthy psychiatrist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his pristine Beverly Hills mansion, her new life seems picture-perfect. But the dark shadow of Roy’s late wife, Deborah, hangs heavy. Convinced Roy murdered Deborah—and unable to go to the police because of her own secret criminal past—Jodie launches her own chaotic, revenge-driven investigation.
What makes this thriller so brilliant is Jodie herself. She is delightfully reckless, razor-sharp, and completely unpredictable. Barelli delivers breathless pacing, sharp wit, and a series of campy, jaw-dropping twists that make it impossible to put down. It is a wildly entertaining rollercoaster ride from the first page to the last! I highly recommend giving this a read.
I absolutely love a deranged main character. But give her an arc where she grows as a person? I am eating it up! This was an incredible listen through audio, the narration was very well done, the writing was captivating and kept me hooked the entire time, and I adored the dark humor. Definitely would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, engaging read. Can't wait to read more by this author.
When a book opens with a character casually having three dead bodies and a prison sentence in her past, you know we're not exactly shopping in the "Live, Laugh, Love" section of the bookstore.
Jodie dreams of being the perfect housewife. Unfortunately, she marries a man who seems determined to turn that dream into a true-crime podcast.
I had an absolute blast with this one. The atmosphere was deliciously creepy, the tension kept building, and I spent most of the book side-eyeing literally every character. Trust no one? Message received.
The real star of the show was Jodie. She's not your typical thriller heroine. She's messy, questionable, and possesses the unique ability to investigate a potential murderer while somehow being one of the most suspicious people in the room herself. Honestly, that's talent.
The mystery surrounding Deborah and the increasingly unsettling behavior of Dr. Davies kept me turning pages long past my bedtime. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story politely informed me that I did not.
My only reason for stopping at four stars is that a few twists required me to stretch my suspension of disbelief like a pair of leggings after Thanksgiving dinner. Did I buy all of it? Not entirely. Did I enjoy the ride? Absolutely.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers featuring unreliable people, terrible decisions, secrets piled on top of secrets, and enough red flags to decorate a football stadium, The Housewife is a wildly entertaining read.
Final verdict: Come for the suspicious husband. Stay for the housewife who may be the bigger problem.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this review copy.
Jodie dreams of being the perfect housewife. Unfortunately, she marries a man who seems determined to turn that dream into a true-crime podcast.
I had an absolute blast with this one. The atmosphere was deliciously creepy, the tension kept building, and I spent most of the book side-eyeing literally every character. Trust no one? Message received.
The real star of the show was Jodie. She's not your typical thriller heroine. She's messy, questionable, and possesses the unique ability to investigate a potential murderer while somehow being one of the most suspicious people in the room herself. Honestly, that's talent.
The mystery surrounding Deborah and the increasingly unsettling behavior of Dr. Davies kept me turning pages long past my bedtime. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story politely informed me that I did not.
My only reason for stopping at four stars is that a few twists required me to stretch my suspension of disbelief like a pair of leggings after Thanksgiving dinner. Did I buy all of it? Not entirely. Did I enjoy the ride? Absolutely.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers featuring unreliable people, terrible decisions, secrets piled on top of secrets, and enough red flags to decorate a football stadium, The Housewife is a wildly entertaining read.
Final verdict: Come for the suspicious husband. Stay for the housewife who may be the bigger problem.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this review copy.
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