I felt like in the end the novel lets him get away with his behaviour without really paying for it, and that his family and wives let him off extremely lightly. The story wanted to show that he did learn his lesson, and maybe he did, but I just felt there were not enough emotional consequences for Adrian. He did not deserve a happily ever after. An emotionally intelligent, brilliantly plotted and beautifully written examination of a very modern family that will keep you gripped until the end. Daily Mail, Books of the Year Stars – Still a gripping mystery but unrelatable characters with missing perspectives, and I really, really hated the ending!

I'm not sure if it was the slow pace, or the fact that I didn't really connect with many of the character, but I had trouble getting into this one. Not to say that there wasn't a good story at the heart of this and that the red herrings weren't illuminating, but if a book is slower paced it needs to be atmospheric to hook me into the story. Well written, a few good surprises but a mixed read for me. I've let this book "sit" in my mind and emotions for 24 hours before writing this review. It's one of those books that makes you think after you have read it so I waited for all the "brain dust" to settle. Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.Personally... I've been married to the same man for 36 years... But, I'm still very moved to see ex-spouses sincerely having each other's best interest at heart.., maybe even remaining friends. There were many parts of this book I found uplifting... For fans of Liane Moriarty and Jojo Moyes comes a riveting family drama with a dark mystery at its core, from the internationally bestselling author of The House We Grew Up In. One of the things that I like about Lisa Jewell's books is that each one is different and unpredictable--this is true of The Third Wife. In an attempt to move on, after Maya’s death, Adrian tries to find a home for her cat. He meets a woman that opens his eyes to the possibility that maybe things weren’t as great as he once believed. Her role in the story and some of the secrets along the way, played out a little differently than expected.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. Up until that point the various ex's and children from former marriages had all seemed to get on so well that they even took holidays together.

Prepare to totally forget about your family as you become immersed in someone else’s. Stellar Magazine

Whilst the mystery was enthralling, the characters were hard to connect with - which definitely hampered my enjoyment. The Third Wife is a summer gem. The story is complex… the many characters well drawn.... Readers of Donna Tartt and Tana French will recognize Jewell’s pacing for what it is: essential.” That feeling is at the center of this book. You’ve got Adrian, a fortysomething with five children between two ex-wives whose life if thrown off-balance when his third wife, Maya, is hit and killed by a bus after a night of uncharacteristic excessive drinking. Even though his family is complicated, Adrian believes that they’ve got it all figured out. All three sections of the family can go on vacation together! The ex-wives get a long and the children have welcomed Maya into their lives without batting an eyelash. It’s the perfect set-up.Was Maya's death a terrible accident or was it a suicide? The circumstances of that night, didn't really fit with the person everyone knew. Or thought they knew.