The Wife Before: A Spellbinding Psychological Thriller with a Shocking Twist

Fans of Verity will be engrossed by this unpredictable novel of suspense as a new bride’s fairytale marriage becomes a prison of secrets. From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Perfect Ruin, this insidiously sexy, twist-filled psycho-drama is reminiscent of the classic gothic tale Rebecca.

“Sexy, scandalous, and striking, this twist-filled psychodrama, like a cosmo, is definitely worth the hype.” – Readers Entertainment Magazine

BookBub’s Best Mysteries & Thrillers of 2022 | PopSugar’s Best New Thriller and Mystery Books of 2022 | SheReads Best Mystery Books Coming in 2022 | Word Wonder Most Anticipated Non-Speculative Releases For 2022 | Goodreads What to Read Next After Colleen Hoover

Samira Wilder has never had it easy, and when her latest lousy job goes south, things only promise to get harder. Until she unexpectedly meets a man who will change her life forever. Renowned pro golfer Roland Graham is wealthy, handsome, and caring, and Samira is dazzled. Best of all, he seems to understand her better than anyone ever has. And though their relationship moves a bit fast, when Roland proposes, Samira accepts. She even agrees to relocate to his secluded Colorado mansion. After all, there’s nothing to keep her in Miami, and the mansion clearly makes him happy. Soon, they are married amid a media firestorm, and Samira can't wait to make a fresh start—as the second Mrs. Graham . . .

Samira settles into the mansion, blissfully happy—until she discovers long-hidden journals belonging to Roland’s late wife, Melanie, who died in a tragic accident. With each dusty page, Samira comes to realize that perhaps it was no accident at all—that perhaps her perfect husband is not as perfect as she thought. Even as her trust in Roland begins to dwindle and a shadow falls over her marriage and she begins to fear for her own life, Samira is determined to uncover the truth of Melanie’s troubled last days. But even good wives should know that the truth is not always what it seems . . .

“Truly riveting." – Urban Reviews

“A shocking, sensual thriller.” —Tarryn Fisher, New York Times bestselling author on The Perfect Ruin

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Published Jun 28, 2022

320 pages

Average rating: 6.58

224 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Wife Before* is a gripping psychological thriller praised for its atmospheric, twisty storytelling and compelling character developme...

Smassh88
Jan 07, 2026
8/10 stars
Great book with a serious shocking twist!! Couldn’t put the book down! Read it in 2 days.
Sierra Upshaw
Jan 22, 2026
6/10 stars
The plot was interesting but the actual storytelling was lack luster imo. All the major twist came at the very end so the pacing was off. There were unanswered questions. It was just okay to me.
jae.xoxo
Jan 11, 2026
10/10 stars
The Wife Before by Shanora Williams was hands down one of the best books I’ve read in years. I was completely hooked by Samira Wilder’s journey from the very first chapter. When she meets Roland Graham, a renowned pro golfer, I felt both the thrill and the uncertainty of a whirlwind romance that moves too fast yet somehow feels inevitable.  Moving into Roland’s secluded Colorado mansion and discovering the truth about Melanie, his late wife, was unnervingly compelling. The way Samira uncovers clues through Melanie’s journals kept me turning the pages, constantly rethinking what I thought I knew. The tension between loyalty, doubt, and danger was so real that I found myself fully invested in Samira’s emotional and psychological experience.  This book didn’t just entertain me … it pulled me deeper into the psychological thriller genre and made me hungry for more stories that are atmospheric, twisty, and uncomfortably real. If you love character-driven suspense that keeps you guessing, this is a must-read. 
carmelvanill
Dec 12, 2025
8/10 stars
Really great book
CierraTyrae
Nov 07, 2025
9/10 stars
I love a good twist, and this book definitely kept me on my toes!

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