e-ALC, 09:10:48
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld & Karissa Vacker
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: March 4-6, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received this ALC free from the publisher and Netgalley. This did nothing to influence my review!)
Content Warning: Murder, Infidelity, Blood, Domestic Abuse, Alcohol, Death, Animal Death, Confinement, Medical Content
For Readers Interested In: Adult, Audio, Catchy Title, Celeb Book Club, Historical Fiction, Sparkly Covers, Mystery, Realistic FictionA remarkable trio whose lives were cracked wide open by their husbands’ crimes unite to catch a serial killer in this dazzlingly captivating novel.
Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are not your average housewives. They are all wives of convicted killers. During the sun-drenched summer of 1966, the three women form an unlikely friendship after the discoveries of their husbands’ brutal crimes. With their exes—some of California’s most infamous serial killers—dead or behind bars, they are attempting to forge a new future for themselves.
Headstrong Beverley compulsively tries to maintain control of everything around her, all while raising two children. Bookish Elsie fights day in and day out for the chance to make a name for herself in the newsroom, working among men who sneer at her career goals. Glamorous Margot refuses to take anything seriously and devotes all her energy to upholding the appearance that everything is fine—anything to quell the shame from her husband’s deceit.
They know people look at them and think only one How could they not have known, when their husbands were right under their noses, committing horrific crimes? How much guilt is theirs to carry? And yet when a string of killings hits the news, the three women—underestimated, overlooked, shrewd—decide to get to work. After all, who better to catch a killer than those who have shared their lives and homes with one?
At once a riveting portrayal of shattered trust and a story of gripping suspense, The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives is a testament to the intricacies of women’s lives and how the deep bonds of female friendship can empower, uplift, and lead us to endure.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I had the idea that this was going to be a really fun thriller, set in the 60’s, and has some women catching a terrible man who started killing people, and they caught him because of their previous experience with their husbands. And let me just say I got like 2 out of 4 of those. I’ll let you figure out which ones were which.
With that being said, I think the most disappointing part of those book for me was the lack of history stuff in it. It’s very decidely set in the 60’s and besides the mention of birth control and them needing to stay home and be quiet, I can’t think of a single thing that gives it a definitive stake in that era. Yeah they mention the war in the background and I don’t remember it, but I assume they talk about the Civil Rights movement, but like why do these things have to be in the background? And before you say to “make it authentic” or “because they’re women in the 60’s” I want you to remember what this book is about and what they’re actually doing? So idk they’re already not being quiet lol Why not make it super in your face that it’s in the 60’s then? I know that’s probably just me, but I just think if you’re going to set it in a time frame, MAKE IT THAT TIME FRAME.
The other thing that irked me was the mention of a thriller. I saw this title and was expecting a thriller and some weird messed up Murderers’ Wives. And what I got was a murder mystery and some women who were trying to solve it. There were some chapters that kind of livened it up (the person who is in confinement), but for the most part, never getting that thriller aspect after you’ve been waiting for it, is kind of disappointing.
But even still, I did like the plot. I was hella interested to know of the reign of terror their husbands caused. I also hated the misogynistic way they kept blaming them and wondering why they didn’t say anything. They all had no idea they were doing all this and society just wouldn’t believe them. Very much like today. But there’s not exactly a lot of clues period, so I didn’t find anything wrong with this one.
This was a crazy book, but I loved the overall theme. Although I wasn’t completely sold in some areas, the rest of this was crazy cool. I hope to see more of this author and the world she made up with this book in the future.
Overall, I give this
