A Psychological Thriller by the Author of The Good Neighbor

This is currently one of my favorite subgenres. I like the palpable sense of dread the author creates from the very beginning. Is something off with the narrator? We don't know. I am never sure how long books are anymore with the kindle, but this one must be fairly short at only 3 hour or so read. Dreadful and tricky. I liked it!!

Too pat, you know how this is going to go, no innovation here.
The writing is pedestrian at best. Will probably not read another of hers if this is the best she can do. Bad Romance with a minuscule amount of suspense.

This book held my attention b/c I was so unsure of where it would lead. Where it did, unfortunately, didn't feel real or shocking enough to have a big impact. Once she figures out what's going on, the story takes a nose dive- as if it had nowhere to go but to kill off some characters and "they lived happily ever after".

I was really excited to read this book since it had received great reviews. However, it was just okay. I enjoyed the story line but it was slow starting and did not really bring me in until halfway through the book. Also, it was sometimes hard to distinguish what she was remembering and what was happening in present day. Overall it was a good book that helped pass the time on a long plane ride.

The first 90% of this book was so boring I kept forgetting the plot. It finally got slightly interesting at the end, but even that was disappointing. Do not recommend wasting your time or money on this one.

I obtained a copy of The Good Neighbor, and found myself guessing from the beginning as to what was going on... so I was super excited that A.J. Ban b err had another book coming out... once again,the guessing game isn't just WHO did it, but WHAT happened. A great book that had me from the beginning! Thank you, A.J. this was another great read that did not disappoint!!!

If you like psychological suspense like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, you'll love The Twilight Wife. I read this in two sittings. The story moves fast, but Banner also writes in such a way that you're completely absorbed in the moment, in the setting, and in her characters. Great purchase!

I bought this book on the store black Friday for just a few bucks. It was on my "recommended for you " list. It turned out it was perfect for me! I love that it was totally unpredictable. Tiny puzzle pieces came together a little at a time, my heart was racing and I could turn the pages fast enough! You'll love this book!

Kyra wakes up in the hospital after a terrible diving accident and cannot remember the last 4 years of her life. Her handsome, attentive husband brings her to their beautiful house on a remote island off the Washington coast and, although there is an occasional flicker of recognition, she still has no memory of their marriage and time together. Day after day, he patiently tries to help her regain her memory yet she cannot get rid of this weird feeling that something is not right...

WHAT I LOVED:
Good story, Interesting premise. Why would she keep doubting their relationship?

Loved the descriptions of the island. I am now dying to visit it.

Great supporting characters, each seemed to have something to hide and possibly know more about her background than they are letting on.

WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE:
At times some pieces of the story seemedo to be a bit of a stretch. Not totally unbelievable but not totally believable.

Two stars for the title and the setting. The basic plot has been used many
times before, and by much better writers. Kyra's thought process was unrealistic
and boring. I was waiting for a side plot to go somewhere interesting, or a final twist
that you wouldn't see coming. I broke my own rule of not finishing a book I wasn't enjoying
just because I paid for it.

As my 3 stars would indicate, I found this novel to be just OK.

The plot description included such facts as that the protagonist Kyra had almost complete memory loss for the 4 years prior to the events of the novel, that it is a work of "psychological suspense," and that "all is not what it seems." From these facts alone the book's most important "twist" seemed blatantly obvious. If WHERE the novel was headed didn't generate much suspense for me, it made the HOW we got there all that much more important. And here I found Kyra's actions and thought processes utterly reasonable, but given the circumstances what else was she to do? SPOILER ALERT: She doesn't really figure anything out; she just gradually remembers. END SPOILER

I found the entire novel much less edge-of-my-seat suspenseful than many readers did.

2 stars, and I am surprised that I even finished it. Not to be harsh, but in all honesty, been there, read that. This is the same story line over and over about a woman who loses her memory in a traumatic event, is being told by her perfect husband that everything is fine and dandy, she starts to get her memories back and realizes things really aren't fine and dandy. And the Twilight Wife is no different.

Maybe I have just read too many books in this genre or with this same plot, but there wasn't anything that happened that surprised me and I only finished the book because I wanted to see if I was right (I was).

If you haven't read a book yet about the "Woman who loses her Memory", then I would suspect that you would thoroughly enjoy this book. The writing is well done and you likely won't suspect the ending. However, if you have read any other book, such as Before I Go to Sleep or The Girl from the Sea, then I wouldn't bother.

Kyra Winthrop is "The Twilight Wife," in which she narrates her tale of missing memories that are gradually returning. A. J. Banner's heroine is a thirty-four year old marine biologist and amnesiac who suffered a fractured skull three months earlier while diving in dangerous waters. Although she has been told that she was once a teacher in Seattle, she has no recollection of the previous four years. "Now I have only this island, the husband who stays by my side, and a peculiar recurring dream," she says mournfully. Kyra is dependent on Jacob (he's her "guardian angel") who prepares delicious home-cooked meals, takes care of the shopping and other household chores, and comforts her when she is confused or worried. Jacob is an MIT graduate and computer genius who founded his own company. The couple now lives one hundred miles from Seattle, on Mystic Island, "a sanctuary surrounded by forest and the sea," a wild and scenic place with no cell phone service, a spotty landline, and an unreliable Internet connection.

Soon, we pick up on the fact that Jacob hovers over Kyra a bit too much, leaving her little breathing space to regain her independence. Fortunately, she is beginning to recall bits and pieces of the past, and she decides to visit a clinical social worker to help organize her thoughts and soothe her anxiety. Little by little, she realizes that something is terribly wrong. She decides to do some sleuthing without confiding in Jacob, and subsequently makes some shocking discoveries.

"The Twilight Wife" is fairly predictable; most readers will have some sense of where the story is headed. In addition, certain far-fetched elements, along with a melodramatic and over-the-top conclusion, mar the narrative. However, Kyra's plaintive and eloquent voice draws us in; we identify with her fear, and empathize with her longing to regain her former standing as a respected scientist and educator. This psychological thriller is not particularly intense or violent, but it is quietly effective. The author keeps us invested in the proceedings with her vivid descriptions of ocean life, insight into troubled minds, and evocative portrayal of Jacob and Kyra's complex relationship.

Thirty four year old Marine Biologist, Kyra Winthrop remembers almost nothing after a diving accident. Her memory for marine biology comes back as she hears terms or words concerning marine biology. She also has flashes of memory around scents and when it concerns her husband, Jacob. Each day she wakes up not fully knowing who she is, she knows her name, details on her life, who her husband is, but all of those things are facts. She really doesn't recall what it was like to be her or what her life was like before the accident. She is dependent on her husband to fill in the details.

Kyra and Jacob have moved to the island where Jacob grew up. She has met his friends and has flashes of memories while in their presence. Nothing too major, just minor glimpses into the past. A past life that she cannot remember. She also begins to meet other residents on the island who also, through conversation, give her little reminders of who she once was. She also has memories of others such as her friend Linny and Jacob's friend Aiden. It soon becomes clear that not everything is as it seems in this book.

While reading this book, I couldn't help but be reminded of "Before I go to Sleep" by S.J. Watson. Another book where a woman with amnesia has to rely on her husband to help her recall her past.

The Twilight Wife hints at various secret relationships. I find that there could have been more exploration into this in the books as some situations/scenarios were set up but then fell flat. I just wanted this book to be better. The premise is so good! A woman has suffered a head injury, her husband is helping her to recall her past, but not too fast, he doesn't want to push her or upset her. This could have been a very good psychological thriller but for me it felt a little flat. As I mentioned this book immediately reminded me of "Before I go to Sleep" and that book, I'm afraid, is better.

This was good - not great. A very fast read. I just wanted more and there were little hints and signs along the way that the BIG reveal wasn't such a big reveal in the end.

Received from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What I Liked

The use of amnesia to keep both the protagonist and reader guessing. This was my first time reading a thriller (or really any novel that I can remember) in which the main character – Kyra – suffers from amnesia. It added a really interesting element to the plot, because the reader slowly gains more information about Kyra’s past at the same pace as she is able to recall it. The book is written in first person from Kyra’s perspective, and the reader is just as clueless as Kyra is about her accident, her marriage and the man she finds beside her. I felt like I was experiencing Kyra’s amnesia alongside her and it created a feeling of confusion and intrigue as I was reading.

The steadily building suspense. The book is short but the plot unrolls steadily page by page, with a balanced relentlessness. Each chapter, and often even each page provides new clues to the reader, but the final truth doesn’t really begin to take shape clearly until the final two or three chapters. In some ways, the book is quiet initially – Kyra is figuring out how to return to her normal life with Jacob after her accident so we see them cooking, meeting friends, going to stores and in general doing very mundane things. It’s Kyra’s thoughts and the little details which instinctively don’t seem to fit for her that build the feeling that something isn’t quite right.

The scientific detail. Kyra is a marine biologist and I was pleasanetly surprised at the abundant and accurate scientific details that the author provided that were relevant to Kyra’s profession. Kyra recalls the scientific names of crabs and seashells she encounters on her beach walks after her accident, though the rest of her memory is a jumbled mess. I appreciated the addition of these realistic scientific details because they helped to further flesh out Kyra’s character and also really tied the entire narrative to the sea setting in which it unfolds.

What I Didn’t Like

How short it was. I felt that the novel could have had a stronger impact on me if the author had taken the time to further develop Kyra’s confused thoughts and the contrast between her post-accident experiences and her pre-accident memories. If the book had been slightly longer, there would also have been the opportunity of further exploring Kyra’s relationships with some of the secondary characters she encounters on the island. I appreciated that I was able to get through the book quickly, and the story ultimately still felt satisfying, but I think there was a missed opportunity in the deeper ways in which the story could have been developed.

Final Verdict
A fast-paced thriller that is a quick read in which the protagonist’s amnesia keeps her guessing as much as the reader about who to trust.

The Twilight Wife was a sleepy psychological thriller. It began with Kyra embarking on a new life with her husband, Jacob. They were moving to a Pacific Northwest island to help Kyra heal from an accident. She had amnesia and could not remember the last four years. Everything about her life felt familiar yet strange. Kyra was in a constant state of confusion over her current life. Even her relationship with her husband, Jacob. Dreams and memories plagued her until she couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't. Kyra searched for the answers to her questions about her life, but each revelation twisted what she thought she knew. The truth was more frightening than what she could have imagined.

When I first started listening to The Twilight Wife, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. The narrator's voice was whimsical, almost dreamlike, when Kyra was talking. It took me a while to get used to that, but then I decided that it was perfect for this book because Kyra was in an almost dreamlike state. She was so confused. The narrator did an excellent job expressing Kyra's thoughts and emotions.

I loved the setting of this book. Being a PNW resident, I could easily imagine Kyra's habitat. The author did an amazing job describing the scenery. I felt like I was right there along with the characters. The setting felt like a character itself in this book.

The Twilight Wife was a great audio book, but I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I would have read it. The story unraveled so slowly. That would have bothered me if I had read rather than listened to it. The author does a great job of throwing out pieces of information that made me question where the story was going, but most of the action and excitement was left to the end. I would have liked some of that excitement and suspense felt more throughout the story. It would have moved the story at a faster pace.

What I loved about The Twilight Wife was the surprise it had in store. I felt like I knew where this one was going from almost the beginning, but I didn't know all of the pieces. I really liked all of the pieces of Kira's past that were slowly revealed. Her story was bigger than I expected it to be. The explosive ending and wrap up was really good, too.

Overall, The Twilight Wife was a great read. I loved the setting and how the story unraveled. I wish it would have moved at a quicker pace, but I know some readers will enjoy the way things slowly drift from dream to reality.

The book started off with the mysteries of a past forgotten and an ominous feel. As the memories showed themselves to Kyra a piece at a time, I didn't know quite what to think or believe about her life before the accident. Each piece that fell into place only served to intrigue me further. I felt Kyra's frustration at the pace of the returning memories and her yearning to be able to get more information from those around her. As more and more of her past revealed itself, along with the secrets being deliberately kept from her, I found it nearly impossible to put this book down. It was brilliantly written: the way everything continued to become clearer and clearer to Kyra and to me. The ending blew my mind. I loved this book and cannot wait to read more from Banner.

The Twilight Wife focuses around a married couple who move to an island off the coast of Seattle Washington to try to ease the wife back into every day life after suffering a head injury due to a scuba diving accident.
Kyra Winthrop and her husband Jacob Winthrop moved into her late mother-in-laws home so that they can work on Kyras memory loss. Soon after the move, Kyra begins to have flashes of memories here and there, some triggered by smells, others by being in a place she has been before, however, not all of them make sense. Many memories come to her tangled with faces she’s never seen before and people she has never met, or rather, just doesn’t remember.
When she begins having dreams and flashbacks of having what seems like an affair with her devoted husbands best friend, she realizes that not everything is exactly as it seems in her life and that perhaps the picture perfect marriage that Jacob was painting for her isn’t so perfect after all. —- This book very much reminded me of Before I Go To Sleep by S.J.Watson, just with its own little twist. I had actually learned quite a bit of marine biology from this novel, far more than I knew before I started it, so I would consider that a plus as well.
Although I knew in which direction this book was headed the entire time (once again thanks to its similarity to BIGTS) it held my interest. At one point I honestly had a whole other theory in mind altogether that got proven wrong once things began to unravel. This book made me wonder how well I would imagine under the same circumstances. Losing 4 years worth of memories and trying to continue your life is no easy task.

Interesting plot, steal your best friends wife because she looks like your mother, rig diving gear to kill her husband and give her a brain injury to allow remapping of memories, gaslight the ever loving living hell out of her, reroute and remap the internet, photoshop years of history, including moving her home, wedding gown etc, oh yes impersonate her best friend...and manage a major computer company all the time being charming, handsome and a millionaire. Oh i forgot a great cook and housekeeper! Why is she complaining right?

A fast paced read with interesting characters...and I only thought people wrote about femme fatale crazy girls, so refreshing to read about a “gone man” or the new “man on a train”! So if you want something to entertain you for a few hours, this may be the book for you! Enjoyable, interesting, and entertaining! I could probably give this book four stars but it was too predictable and i had it figured out right down to his mother’s affair with Doug Ingram....minus two stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

'He wants to protect me from pain, from grief, but it is too late for that.  There are some things in this world from which we can't be protected."  - Kyra Winthrop, The Twilight Wife

The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner is a fast-paced psychological suspense novel, a touch on the lighter side.  Kyra Winthrop, the protagonist, has suffered a traumatic event that has left her with a rare case of memory loss.  The plot unfolds as she attempts to figure out who she was during the time she cannot remember.  Banner unveils the story masterfully, with just the right amounts of well timed revelations to keep you intrigued.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.  It has short chapters and it's all story and no fluff. While this isn't a tale likely to keep you up at night, it's utterly conniving and unnerving.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys quick reads. Throw it in your travel bag, it's perfect for road trip reading, read it by the pool or at the beach.  If you love reading contemporary fiction and lighter suspense novels be sure to check this one out!  

I give this 4 conniving stars out of 5.

"What if my brain is choosing to block out not trauma, but something else altogether? Impossible. I have to dismiss the thought. I have to believe what Jacob is saying. The conversation was all in fun. Just because someone talks about murder, doesn’t mean they intend to actually kill someone."

Kyra suffered a traumatic brain injury following a diving accident. She has no memory of the past four years of her life and she struggles to form new, lasting memories. Her husband, Jacob, has been put to the task of reintroducing her to her life through shared experiences, friends and photo albums kept at their home on the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest.

Desperate to regain her past, Kyra begins to search the island for clues to help corroborate her husband’s story. She revisits places her and Jacob frequented and meets with friends they shared with the hope of sparking recognition. At the urging of one friend she begins to see a therapist- someone to whom she can confide her deepest worries and thoughts.

"As I leave her office, I should feel calmer, less confused, and better equipped to face the mystery of my past. I do, in a way. But I also feel as though my memories stop short, before the storm, at the edge of a precipice leading down into darkness."

Kyra attempts to pursue something akin to a normal life. She returns to the ocean- her haven of sea creatures that she studied for years and one of the few things she can remember. She tries to reacquaint herself with Jacob and she can’t help but admit to the attraction and companionship she feels. She can’t ignore the nagging suspicion, either.

"I kiss him back, the way I know I have before, many times. His lips taste familiar. I’m enjoying his touch. I want him. I wanted him before. But something went wrong between us. And I suddenly remember thinking, What secrets would I hide to save my marriage?"

A discovery leads to a rapid unraveling and the reveal that proves everyone has their secrets. The Twilight Wife is a solid thriller with the perfect combination of emotional depth and suspense.

I enjoyed her previous book, her debut into the psychological thriller genre, The Good Neighbor but I also recognized why so many found faults with the plot that were pointed out in other reviews. Banner definitely stepped up her game and took previous criticisms to heart for The Twilight Wife and it is leaps and bounds better in content and quality. Still brain candy, the twists not as surprising as a typical reader of the genre might like – but perfect for snuggling up with for a few hours when your own life is not something you want to think about anymore.

Also, and I said this about The Good Neighbor as well, Banner’s book screams to be made into a movie. Sleeping With the Enemy, The Net, and a number of other 90’s classics we could not do without would love to share shelf space with a film version of The Twilight Wife. These are the stories we wear pajamas, drink a lot of wine, and eat the greasiest pizza while reading and watching.

The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner

I really loved this suspense filled novel. It is a book of psychological suspense who I came to care about one of the main character's very much. There have been comparisons made of this book to S.J. Watson's novel "Before I Go to Sleep," and "The Good Girl," written by Mary Kubica. I really liked Mary Kubica's first book "The Good Girl." I did not care for Kubica's second book, and I heard her third book was really good. I own her third book, but have not had the chance to get to it. This book begs the question of how well do we trust the people in our lives. I would be in big trouble because I believe everything a person tells me unless it is glaringly unrealistic or highly unlikely.

As I already mentioned I really cared about Kyra Winthrop who is a marine biologist and has been injured in a scuba diving accident. Kyra suffers from traumatic brain injury and can't remember the past four years of her life. I wanted to help her remember. The character development is excellent and the writing was easy to follow along as each sentence flowed into the next. How would you feel if you couldn't remember yesterday and four whole years are missing?

Kyra Winthrop is a marine biologist and is thirty four years old and except from brief flashbacks cannot remember her life before the diving accident. Some of the descriptions of the Island and the ecosystem of marine biology are absolutely stunning. At her side is her husband Jacob who is trying to help Kyra fill in the gaps with bits and pieces of their life. Jacob is very patient with Kyra telling her to relax and get some rest. Kyra does remember flashes of her life but for the most part she can't remember much.

Kyra and Jacob live on a small Island in the northwestern pacific area. jacob is very devoted to Kyra and he is anxious for her to recover her memory of their life together. Jacob assists Kyra by filling in bits and pieces of their life. It all sounds very loving, but is it? Is there some kind of sinister forces at work here? Kyra will sometimes remember small flashes by using her sense of smell. Or Kyra has the sense that she has been someplace before.

Kyra feels that there is something about Jacob that she can't remember. Kyra meets Douglass Ingram who paints portraits of Jacob's mother. He talks to Kyra without giving out any concrete evidence of why she shouldn't trust Jacob. Nan is a young woman who has known Jacob all their lives. Still, Kyra feels their are huge gaps missing in her former life before the accident. Kyra is starting to suspect some aspects about Jacob.

The novel is a page turner and can be read in one sitting as the suspense is ranched up. There are a lot of twisty turns and surprises. The ending could use some editing as I felt that it was a bit off. I don't want to give away any more spoilers as it will ruin your reading experience. This is a suspense driven book and the pages practically turn by themselves. I really loved this book. Be careful because their is some deception and what I thought was happening I later found out wasn't. Read this suspenseful superbly written book. You will be in excellent hands with the very talented A.J. Banner.

Many thanks go to Net Galley, the talented A.J. Banner and Touchstone Publishing for generously providing me with my digital copy of this excellent novel.

The Twilight Wife is A.J. Banner's second novel.

After marine biologist Kyra Winthrop suffered a catastrophic diving accident, her husband Jacob moved her to a small island community to heal. And while her physical injuries have healed, her memory has not. She barely remembers anything about her life before the accident or even the accident itself. But lately, she has flashes of another time, other places and other people - but are they real or imagined? Was Jacob always the devoted husband he is today? Why do some of the townsfolk whisper behind her back? Or is it all in her own mind?

"Why can't I remember four years of my life? Why only four years? Why not everything? Why not just the accident? Why do I keep forgetting conversations? Pieces of time?"

A great premise. I love this current trend of unreliable narrators (memory loss opens up lots of possibilities), psychological suspense and twisty endings.

The Twilight Wife is told through Kyra's eyes and experience. It's a bit of a slow wind-up, full of details that started to make sense to me sooner than they did for Kyra. Banner does a good job of dropping hints and doubts along the way, and had suspicions as to the final reveal long before Kyra did. But hey, she has a brain injury and I don't.

The Twilight Wife was a quick, engaging book that almost read like a movie if that makes sense. Not a lot of depth, but very entertaining. It would be a great beach bag book - especially with all the marine biology trivia included.

The audiobook is narrated by Cassandra Carroll, a prolific and award winning reader. I do enjoy her voice - she has a nice tone and modulation. Sometimes though that she over elongates words. I don't know why, but in some books, I do find it a bit annoying. Her interpretation of Kyra does match Banner's words. But it's interesting comparing both print and vocal versions of a book. The audiobook made Kyra seem even more vulnerable and lost.

There was something so addicting about this book. I couldn't put it down, and consequently blew right through it. I actually stopped to check how many pages it was, because I was reading it almost like a novella, but it's not! Something about the beautiful setting drew me in... a relatively isolated existence on a stunning island with a fascinating mystery.

Kyra was in a tragic diving accident. Most of the damage from it cannot be seen... it's in her head. Her memory has suffered terribly. She can't remember anything that's happened in the last few years, and even her short term memory has been affected. She asks the same questions only a week or so later, because they didn't stay in her brain. Her husband caters to her, cooking and caring for his wife lovingly. He's become very protective, keeping her a bit isolated and wanting to accompany her every time she leaves the house. He worries... who wouldn't? But some things don't add up, and Kyra begins to have flashes of memories with another handsome man. Did she cheat on her supportive husband? Did she want to leave him? She becomes more and more determined to uncover her past and figure out what happened during those missing years. Her internet searches and queries to friends don't get her far. Jacob insists they've always had a happy marriage, but something just doesn't sit right with her.

Thoroughly engrossing, great read. I look forward to more by this author, she writes beautifully.

I received an ARC of this story from Net Galley and Touchstone, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

The Twilight Wife is an intense and riveting psychological thriller.
Kyra Winthrop suffered from amnesia after hitting her head in a diving accident. She could only remember bits and pieces of the last four years of her life. And, since she had only been married for three years, most of her married life was a blank slate. Kyra was fortunate that she at least remembered Jacob, her husband, enough to feel comfortable around him; but not enough; however, to share a bedroom. Jacob had patience, though, and created for Kyra the perfect place for her to relax and regain her memories.
Jacob brought Kyra to Mystic Island, his childhood vacation home. It was a place where everyone knew everyone else. Kyra had been there before, so people recognized and sympathized with her. They also helped her put some of the pieces of her past together. The flashes of memory that Kyra did recover, though, confused her, more than comforted her. It troubled Kyra that she had glimpses of being with another man, possibly Jacob’s best friend. From what she gathered from the Islander’s conversations, her marriage was less than ideal. Although Jacob appeared to be the perfect husband, there was something that she couldn’t quite identify that was dark and foreboding about him. And that troubled her.
The Twilight Wife is cleverly crafted, filled with suspense and intrigue, complex characters and realistic dialogue.
This is the first book that I have read by this author, but it will not be my last. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced review copy.

I received this advance reader's edition of the book in a Goodreads giveaway courtesy of Touchstone in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book from beginning to end. I had a hard time putting it down. Kyra is on a remote island with her husband Jacob. Kyra is a marine biologist who suffered a head injury while scuba diving and has lost her memory of the last 4 years of her life. The only things she knows from that time period is what Jacob has told her. She does have occasional flashbacks of a third diver being with them but Jacob swears that it was only the 2 of them.

Jacob is treats her like a prized possession. He doesn't want her going anywhere without him. Kyra does does sense that there is something off in her relationship with Jacob and the occasional bits of memory that start coming back to her don't jibe with what Jacob has told her. I guessed what was going on about half way through the book but it didn't spoil anything for me because i wanted to know exactly what had happened and how it was carried out.

Kyra starts having memories of another man named Aiden. The life that Jacob has built for her starts to unravel as more of her memory keeps coming back. She becomes confused as to what is real and what isn't in the memories that Jacob has given to her.
A.J. Banner is a wonderful writer and I plan on adding her first book, The Good Neighbor, to my list of books to be read. I highly recommend The Twilight Wife if you like books with lots of plot twists and turns.

"The word twilight suggests falling away into darkness, the strange, dreamlike in-between time, when day isn’t quite finished and night hasn’t quite begun. Kyra hovers in that limbo, not entirely herself without her memory and plunging into a terrifying night as her life unravels. However, she also finds beauty and hope in twilight. She remembers magical nights, when she walked the beach and discovered unusual marine species beneath the moonlight. And night always becomes day again. Darkness leads to dawn. She discovers her own inner strength and reclaims her life." -online author Q&A

The Twilight Wife is a standalone, psychological suspense novel written by author A.J. Banner. After suffering a head injury, the heroine is struggling with memory loss. As with other novels with a similar plot, she comes across information, people, and experiences that challenge the memories she has been told. The Twilight Wife felt very familiar to me (think Before I Go to Sleep), but I very much enjoyed A.J. Banner's detail to the heroine's line of work as a marine biologist. This addition added lovely visuals for me while reading and even prompted me to look up a few terms/sea life words I had never heard of before. Although the bulk of this book isn't something I hadn't read before, I certainly don't regret reading it. Check it out!

My favorite quote:
"None of us is bound by the past."

I’ve been on a streak with really good psychological suspense novels lately and I was so thrilled to see it continue with The Twilight Wife. I never really guessed the truth until the big reveal during the climax. The pacing was excellent and I read through the novel from start to finish in less than three nights. I loved that the story was told from the point of view of an unreliable narrator and the reader has to struggle to piece together Kyra’s past with very little to go on. My only complaints are a few subplots were never resolved and I wanted a little more tension during the finale. Otherwise, a fantastic thrilling read!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review purposes!

Following on the heels of her success with The Good Neighbor, novelist A. J. Banner ups her game in The Twilight Wife, a psychological suspense tale of a marine biologist who struggles with memory issues after a diving accident.

The Twilight Wife is written in the first person from Kyra Winthrop's point of view. This gives the narrative a particular intimacy and poignancy as Kyra struggles to remember and to reclaim her life. She must get re-acquainted with her husband and their friends while odd images surface that seem to not connect with the life she is living.

Bit by bit, Banner reveals the truth of Kyra's life...and when I learned the final piece of the puzzle, I was shocked. I did not see it coming!

This story hit me personally on several levels. Having had memory issues myself (due to an illness), I could relate at least superficially to Kyra's struggles. While my situation was not as dire as hers, I felt this aspect of the story to be true to my own experience. I also experienced one of Kyra's other losses, though I won't disclose it here because it would spoil the story. Suffice to say I felt a strong affinity and emotional connection with Kyra.

I had trouble putting this book down. I seldom give five stars, but I was engaged in this novel from the first page on. Highly recommended!

NOTE: I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

After hearing the hype over “The Twilight Wife”, I requested a copy from Touchstone. Upon receiving I started this book. AJ Banner is a super sweet author who actually thanked me for reading her book. I like when authors acknowledge us bloggers in post we tag them in.

The Twilight Wife begins with Kyra relying on her known husband Jacob to recover from a dive accident. Kyra begins to have flashbacks and is trying to piece together the past four years. It’s been three months since the accident, three months of Kyra asking repeated questions that she can’t seem to remember even asking. Through the book, I found Jacob only answers these questions with what he wants Kyra to hear. Also, through the book we find Jacob to become frustrated with having to continue to answer questions. That frustrated me, because it’s not like Kyra can help he memory loss. And Jacob signed up for this, right?!

I really enjoyed The Twilight Wife... However, I like more twist and OMG moments. Overall, worth the time!

To keep this review spoiler free, I’ll just say the ending was everything I had hope for. It’s also not how I thought it would end though. Haha hope that confuses you a bit.

I’ll definitely be on the lookout for future books from AJ.

Thanks Touchstone for my copy!!!

This is an interesting mystery with a few unexpected twists that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

The first couple of chapters in this book drew me in and I was hooked by the third. I liked the main character right away and wanted to know what was going on with her. After she began discovering that things weren't as they seemed, my curiosity grew and the pages started flying by. This is a very exciting book from the beginning and only gets better as you get farther into it.

I love psychological suspense books that keep you guessing at what is really going on all the way to the end, and this one does that well. Even when you think you have it figured out, there is still something left to be revealed around every corner.

If you love the kind of books where you and the main character have to figure out the mystery together, this would be a good one to pick. Recommended.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Twilight Wife is the story of a woman trying to regain her memory after an accident to find that not all is what it seems! 34 year old Marine Biologist Kyra Winthrop is left remembering nothing of her past life after a diving accident left her with a huge memory loss. As Kyra tries to remember what happened that day and the days before that, she soon discovers that not everything is what it seems. With a stunning conclusion that finds Kyra where she was meant to be all along!

This book was amazing in the sense that you have no clue to what is going on until the very last chapter when it will make sense about everything. My only problem in this entire book was how it ended without much of a backstory on how it went after Kyra discovered the truth to where she was in that last chapter but overall, it was a pretty good story to get in for a couple of hours! I so don't want to give much of anything away but this would make a fantastic movie that I would love to see being played out on the big screen that would be bigger than A Girl On A Train or at lest for me it would be!

Thank You to A.J. Banner for writing a story that will keep anyone glued to the book until the last word is read!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley!

*I received an advanced reading copy from the author/publisher in exchange for my review*

A.J. Banner has yet to disappoint. I love a good mystery and she's able to not only deliver that, but is often able to do that from a new and fresh perspective. When I was first told about this book I was a bit concerned as many amnesia stories have been written and after a while they all start to feel the same. However The Twilight Wife didn't fail to stand out from the rest, offering twists and turns that others don't have. I also find the authors ability to present the big twist or turning point of the story; while I may feel like I have things figured out, there are always certain aspects I couldn't possible have predicted. This was a page turner that kept me hooked until the very end, and the resolution was everything I hoped for and more. I can't say enough how impressed I am with A.J. Banner's ability to create a new and unique story that doesn't feel as though it's been over done. It's utterly refreshing to read something that doesn't feel as though you've read it many times before. Was thrilled to receive an early copy of this book and I will continue to watch out for more books by A.J. Banner.

What a superbly written book!!

This is the first A. J. Banner book that I've read and it was totally a hit with me. Enjoyed the brilliant pace at which the story progressed, not to fast but fast enough to keep me turning the pages and losing track of time. Banner's writing style is simple yet productive and very effective!

Kyra Winthrop has had a very serious diving accident while at Deception Pass with her husband, Jacob. She has lost all memory of the past four years of the life. Her loving, devoted husband, Jacob moves her to Mystic Island to recover and help her piece her life back together. Kyra is trying to take the information Jacob gives her and connect it to the bits and pieces that she is remembering on her own. However things are just not adding up for her! Something just isn't right!?!?

I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by A. J. Banner. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the mystery /thriller genre.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Touchstone and A. J. Banner for the opportunity to read and review "The Twilight Wife".

I received a galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a student of first lines and A.J. Banner’s opening sentence in The Twilight Wife grabs my attention immediately. In that one sentence, she establishes the time of day (morning), the main character’s specialty (marine biology, including the study of Mediaster aequalis, a sea star), and her core problem (she doesn’t remember her own name).
By the end of the first page, a little knot of dread has already formed in my stomach. Over the next chapters, the knot swells as the story turns and the delicious tension builds. Should 34-year-old Kyra, a marine biologist who lost her memory in a diving accident, believe the photographic and textual evidence of her patient and attentive husband, Jacob, or do her recurring dreams and traumatic flashes of past events represent more than frustrating proof of an injured, untrustworthy brain?
Banner does a great job of weaving setting with action and character development—enough description to put the reader into the character’s shoes as she walks the beaches or visits the town seeking memory triggers, but not so much as to lose the threads of the story—and there are several. Who is the old fisherman who keeps mistaking Kyra for somebody else? Did Kyra have an affair with her husband’s best friend? Was a third person involved in the diving accident?
A.J. Banner is adept at evoking images in a reader’s mind: “’I’m recording light on silver atoms,’ Jacob says, snapping a picture of me in the kitchen.” Really--I could snack on that line all day.
Banner also adds surprising detail to what could be fairly mundane scenes—such as the one when Kyra goes to make a phone call—“She motions me into a tiny office cluttered with files and papers and collectible lunch boxes. Batman, Disney, and every theme under the sun, crowded onto shelves and any other available surface.” Boom—a minor character’s cluttered office goes from stale stereotype to revealing reality.
About three-quarters of the way through the book, I’d had just about enough of the tease of clues but, saving the day, that was exactly when A.J. Banner began tumbling the story to its surprising conclusion. I’d tried several guesses at the twist during the almost (except for Christmas) non-stop read up to that point, but I was wrong on all counts.
I could easily see The Twilight Wife as a movie—sort of along the lines of Nicholas Sparks. All in all, an enjoyable and well-written suspense novel.

Jan Symonds currently lives on a 7-acre farm with her husband, six members of a homeless family she met on a construction project, and two Shelties. She writes late at night on a desk piled with coloring sheets, candy canes, grammar books, and styro-headed sock puppets, and dreams of owning sheep again someday. Once she finishes unpacking boxes from her latest move, she’ll be back blogging at [...]

The Twilight Wife begins with a seemingly normal start about a woman who has lost her memory in a diving accident. And then, just like that, BANG... the reader is hit with constant twists and turns that no one could have seen coming! I was sucked in from the first chapter and loved every second of it.

As soon as I got into the meat of the book, I could tell something seemed a little off with some of the characters, but I had a really hard time putting my finger on it. I loved how Banner gave me just enough information to think I knew what was going on, but not enough to really figure it all out. I was constantly questioning the characters' loyalty to Kyra and whether or not they were capable of doing something to hurt her. I definitely had suspicions about everyone, which is a really fun (and nerve-wracking) feeling for the reader.

I absolutely loved The Twilight Wife from start to finish and have already been gushing about it to family and friends. If you are in the market for a quick and suspense-filled read, you should pick up The Twilight Wife. You won't regret it!

*I received this book from author for free, after I had requested a copy for review purposes, that in no way effects the outcome of my review** I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

So for fans of "Girl On A Train", "Pretty Girls", "The Good Girl", "The Silent Sister", pick this book up, and pick it up now. It was absolutely fantastic. The thing I love about A.J. Banner's books, is that she does not use fillers, or fluff, or unnecessary words. She delves right into the plot, the secrets, the shame, and the superb plot twists. So you aren't reading a 500 page book and getting bored with the story. She gets to the point, and I love that about her.

This book was under 300 pages, and I flew through it, much like her other book "The Good Neighbor" which was equally as incredible!

I found myself trying to figure out this plot from the first page, you know something is off, but you can't quite put your finger on it. A.J. just keeps the shocks coming too. I will defiantly be buying anything that A.J. Banner writes, from here on out.

Kyra Winthrop had a diving accident that left her with little memory of anything. She experiences flashes of memories but nothing significant. Tucked away on a small island her life now consists of a few friends and her loving husband Jacob.

Kyra begins having dreams or visions. She's not sure but then she starts thinking they must be memories and they leave her mystified ... and then terrified. As Kyra uncovers more and more of her past she realizes that her life after her accident has been a lie. All her memories and discoveries culminate in a shocking conclusion.

I listened to the audio version which is narrated by the very talented Cassandra Campbell. She is in my top five of favourite narrators and I know I'm in for a great listen when I see her as the narrator. She was perfect for this story bringing that haunting, something strange is happening quality to the story. The Twilight Wife is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers.

I received this ARC novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

Kyra is suffering from severe amnesia after a diving accident. Living on an isolated island off the West Coast with her devoted husband Jacob, Kyra struggles to remember her past as well as build back her relationship with her husband, which is strained at best. He is a stranger to her. Slowly she starts to build her strength back up and get back to what she loves doing - research on marine biology but her relationship with her husband remains strained. Even though she cannot remember much, she starts having flashbacks of a man called Aiden and immediately feels troubled - who is he to her? Thrown in to the mix are unusual conversations with the island's residents - many of whom have their own secrets..

I started to figure out the plot. It must come with reading so many psychological thrillers, where nobody is as they seem. Still, even though I thought I had the plot figured out, this one had an usual twist at the end.

Read in about three evenings - I'd highly recommend this book.

The Twilight Wife is perfect for fans of S.J. Watson's, Before I Go To Sleep. You will helpless to put it down until the very astonishing end. Kyra Winthrop is a marine biologist living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. She is recovering from a head injury suffered while scuba diving and is struggling with terrible memory loss. For Kyra it's hard to know what memories to trust. She relies heavily on her husband to fill in the blanks in her mind. She is recovering on the seemingly idyllic island of her husband's youth. The island residents all seem to want to aid her recovery, but when some memories surface that appear contrary to what her husband has told her, she begins to question who she can trust. With each flashback, Kyra struggles to piece her past together. Each day Kyra remembers more, but why does she feel more scared with each passing day? The author's well-crafted writing, taut with suspense will leave you no choice but to succumb to a marathon reading session to the very last page.

This book drew me in quick. I probably would have read it in one day if I had enough time to just sit and read all day. Kyra hits her head while on a diving trip with her husband and has a "mind reset" where she cannot remember the last 4 years of her life which include meeting and marrying her husband. They move to a secluded house on an island far away from modern technology so she can recover and relax. As she starts to remember bits and pieces of the last 4 years, her memories conflict with what her husband and friends are telling her. This creepy story has you questioning what everyone, including Krya, has in their past and everything you thought you knew about all the characters. Well-written and submersive plot kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what really happened in the last 4 years and whose story/memories can you really trust?

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.

3.5 stars

The Twilight Wife has some surprising twists and turns. Fast paced and easy to read, I flew right through this thriller.

Marine biologist Kyra Winthrop suffered a traumatic brain injury in a diving accident leading to memory loss. She walks around with a feeling of unease trying to gather snippets to help her remember the past four years of her life, including marrying her husband Jacob. As Kyra slowly begins to slowly remember the details of her life, she realizes she can’t trust anyone, including herself.

The events in this novel slowly unfold. At times, I was waiting for something to happen, but I was happy with the pay off in the end. I also felt like the ending deserved more attention—it felt rushed and left me with questions.

Overall, this book didn’t knock my socks off, but it has potential!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Kyra Winthrop has lost parts of her memory since her diving accident with her husband Jacob. She can remember childhood memories but has difficulty remembering the last four years of her life. As she recovers with her husband on Mystic Island, she starts to question pieces of her past. Kyra slowly starts to remember small conversations and places she has been. Wanting to piece things together she does her research finding clues along the way that help her remember her past.

This book kept me up at night turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. I could not predict what was going to happen next and was surprised in a few places. This book was full of mystery for me and some suspense too! I really enjoyed reading this book and will recommend it to my friends.

I received this arc from Touchstone Books in exchange for my honest review and this is my honest review of The Twilight Wife

Kyra has suffered a head injury while diving and is unable to remember any details of the last four years of her life. She and her husband Michael have moved to a quaint and peaceful seaside community in the Pacific Northwest. There are very few neighbors, usually no dial tone on the phone and extremely unreliable internet. And not one single cell phone.
The plot comes together really well and got me hooked to keep reading. About 2/3 of the way thru, it became weak and a bit tiresome. As I finished the book, I reflected on ominous comments that were said by various neighbors throughout the book. Nothing ever came of those comments. Nothing tied back to the furtive warnings and sly looks. In the end, everyone was as surprised as Kyra to learn the truth. The final events Kyra went thru are weak and somewhat confusing; a lot of dashing from one spot to another, then one second swinging an oxygen tank and the next simply falling helplessly and being attacked.
Kyra’s descriptions of her love for her husband get a bit sappy. I’ve never been one for romance novels and the visions in her head are straight out of one. I still enjoyed the read but was a bit let down at the end. I would definitely want to read more from this author, though.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Touchstone and NetGalley for making it available.)

This was a great read. A woman who has lost her memory from a diving accident. She keeps having dreams and has to ask her husband what is real and what isn't real. They are on an island that is sparsely populated with a few close friends. Some of whom knew her before the accident.

While she is trying to put the pieces back together, she finds out that all is not what it seems to be.

The jaw dropping ending is one that I definitely did not see coming. This book was one that I could not put down as I wanted to know what happened in the water as well. Were there more than just two people down there? What really happened? And was it an accident? This was one creepy story, well worth my time. I loved it.

Thanks to Touchstone for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I usually don't read books like this (mostly read mysteries/thrillers). I came across this and it looked intriguing. I remember reading a similar book, forget title, where someone lost her memory and thought she was living with her husband, but wasn't. (In that one, the women had way less contact with outsiders than in this book.) This one was very similar. I was surprised I actually liked this, although I did find myself scanning through pages and pages that didn't seem to move the story forward. I thought the writing was good. The author paints a good descriptive picture. However, for me personally, it became tedious, but I was at the point where I had to see it resolved. Of course, I knew he was not what he seemed, so it didn't "floor" me at the end. It was expected. A good read, although it didn't cause me to search out other books by this author.

Holy. Freaking. Crap.
I love a good psychological thriller. The Good Girl, Gone Girl, anything else by Gillian Flynn, etc.
I finished this was in a less than 24 hour period because I was flipping through the pages at rapid speed every chance that I got.
I really cannot talk too much about this book without giving spoilers away.
To give you an idea of just how much I loved this book, I have told every one that I know that likes to read psych thrillers about this book, and lastly I hardly ever give out 5 star ratings. I gave this book a 5 star rating.
This book was just a total mind blower. Just when you think you might have something figured out, the author throws you for a loop
And still, if you do figure out what's going on or when you get to that part in the book, just the complexity of it, the elaborate measures taken will blow your mind.

I have completely fallen in love with this book, A.J. Banner never fails to impress! The details about every character and place, make you feel like you're watching every page turn into a scene from a movie. The mystery that begins unfolding a little more in each chapter makes it to where you don't want to set the book down to even cook dinner! I was so engulfed in the mystery unfolding that before I knew it I went from the first page all the way to the last in one day! Definitely a page turner! One thing I absolutely love about the writing style of A.J. Banner is how suspenseful and thrilling her stories are. I never like things that are predictable and this book is far from predictable! I felt like I was a part of this story as I read it, her writing makes you feel so involved and it's so detailed that you really do feel like you're watching a movie! I received a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I take pride in doing honest reviews, they help others to know if things are actually worth not only their money, but their precious time. And let me tell you, The Twilight Wife is absolutely worth every bit of your time and money! What an outstanding read!
-Haylee Bergman

Wow, wow, wow!! What an amazing read this is! A.J. Banner is the Queen of psychological suspense. She truly knows how to weave a tale that keeps you guessing and then "Bam" comes the ending! You can never guess the endings to her books! I love that about her books. Now that is talent! This book is so incredibly well written and it flows effortlessly from beginning to end. You are on the edge of your seat throughout the book. I loved the storyline and the main characters. The characters are very complex and extremely well developed. You will be immersed in this story and won't want to come up for air. The dialogue is as true to life as the characters are. A.J. Banner is a master storyteller. You will love this book. An absolute must read!. I won't give you any spoilers because this is a book that must be savored. You just have to hold on and take the ride!

Since I've read some other books like this it was pretty obvious how it was going to end, but I still was expecting a little more. This plot is a little played out by now; woman loses memory and tries to piece life back together with her oh so amazing and patient husband. Very similar to S. J. Watson's, "Before I Go To Sleep", but with less thinking and more action. Honestly, if you've read one you've read the other for the most part. Mia trying to piece her memories back together was the most interesting part and was done in a clever way, but still nothing remarkable. Overall, if you're looking for a quick read it and forget it, this is a good choice.

Kyra Winthrop is a marine biologist who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury she received while on a dive three months prior. During her recovery, She, along with her husband Jacob, are living in his parents’ former home on idyllic Mystic Island in the NW Pacific.
But all is not what it appears to be as Kyra begins having flashes of memories, of a life that doesn’t add up to what she has been led to believe.
As Kyra’s memories slowly begin to return, the truth becomes a terrifying nightmare that’s there’s no waking up from.
The Twilight Wife is psychological thriller writing at its finest. Filled with lies, deception and a reach out and grab you, twist of an ending that keeps you engaged until the very last page is read.

Just as she did with The Good Neighbor, AJ Banner has written another superbly written, taut thriller that takes off on page one and doesn't let up until the last page. Banner is an incredibly economical writer who doesn't waste a single word. Which isn't to say she isn't also a descriptive writer because she absolutely is. She just uses her descriptions effectively, helping to set the stage or describe a character's frame of mind.

One of my biggest pet peeves is that writer's pad their story or cheat on their plots by having their characters ignore the obvious. Banner doesn't do that. Instead, from the get go, Kyra is asking questions and following up on her suspicious until the terrible truth is finally revealed.

Read The Twilight Wife. You'll be glad you did.

This is the first I have found A.J. Banner. She has a story line that will keep you turning around. I don't like diving. It is always a bad thing. Told you so! Spoiler. Kyra was diving with her husband and she hit her head and now has no memories. Jacob is taking good care. Aiden dove too and his hose quit. Spoiler. Kyra gets in trouble when she works to find her lost memories. You will find that as you think you figured the story it will actually go in a different direction. There are bad times but I still will recommend anyone who likes mysteries to read this book. There are lots of little spoilers. I hope you will check this story out. Don't pass this story up! I volunteered to read and review this book.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book, provided I post an honest review. To begin with... WOW!! I was hooked! I generally can guess where the "twist" is or who the "bad guy" is but this time I didn't figure it out. I was totally shocked with the ending. The story is well-written as it keeps you wondering through the entire book. I couldn't put it down.

Kyra is a marine biologist who remembers nothing of her accident. She has a very loving and protective husband. However, Kyra sees signs that she had been unhappy with her marriage so she keeps digging for answers only she didn't expect the answer that she discovered. You won't either!

I am an A.J. Banner fan. Last year I read The Good Neighbor and really enjoyed it and, when I read the description of this book on Banner's website, it referenced the book Before I to go Sleep by S.J. Watson, which I really enjoyed, so I was ready and excited for this one. And what a good one it is! I feel very lucky that I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Kyra is a character that the reader can really support--you know she has had this terrible accident and that she can't remember the past four years. Her husband is so supportive and patient and romantic. He goes over photo albums with her, helps her to remember their past. But does he? Having read the plot summary I started to doubt everyone on the island: what do they know? What is real? Are Kyra's memories not really memories at all?


I also love the San Juan Islands area so the setting for this book was great. The author's descriptions of the mist, the forests, the ferries, and beaches all invoke the sights, smells, and sounds that I remember of the area.


I am not going to say much more because you really need to read this one for yourself. It is tense, a fast read, intriguing, and just sucks you in from the first few pages. Way to go! Thank you so much for the book, I loved it! If you'd like to purchase a copy of this book, you can do that on the author's website [...] )

This story had me on the edge of my seat. The plot is beautifully laid out as Kyra struggles to regain her memory after a diving accident. Banner gives us a comprehensive look into Kyra's soul as she tries to discover who she can trust. I did figure out a few things by way of hints dropped by other characters and what Kyra discovers, but I did not see where the end was going. Good surprise. I love good endings and at first I wasn't sure things would turn out well. Great suspense!

I received an advance copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of the most thought-provoking and thrilling books I have read in quite some time. Having read Ms. Banner's previous book, "The Good Neighbor," I expected a well-written, gripping offering and I was not disappointed! She has quickly become my favorite author for her ability to completely "finish" a story. No unanswered questions. No untied loose ends. Her characters are rich and believable, her story lines are full and well plotted. Her plot twists alone are worth the read and are unrivaled! I highly recommend anything by this author and can't wait to see what she has next!

“The Twilight Wife” by A.J. Banner is a well-built psychological suspense story along the lines of S.J. Watson’s "Before I Go to Sleep."

Marine biologist Kyra Winthrop remembers nothing about the diving accident at Deception Pass that left a gap in her short-term memory. She can’t remember the last few years, including her marriage to Jacob Winthrop. Each day is a struggle to reorient herself to who she is supposed to be—professional career woman and loving wife. After the accident, her husband whisks her off to a tiny uncharted island in the San Juan Islands where he lovingly tries to help her remember how happy they were before the accident.

On the island, she runs into business owners and residents she met on her previous trip there the summer before the accident. From them, she gleans bits and pieces of who she was. Fragmented memories begin to return. But the puzzle pieces don’t fit and Kyra struggles to learn who she really is and uncover the mysteries surrounding her before it's too late.

I admire A.J. Banner’s writing style—her crisp, clean lines, her setting and theme-driven similes, her detailed descriptions sprinkled throughout the story instead of dumped in blocks like some writers have a tendency towards. As the story moves along, the pace naturally increases until you literally cannot put the book down. I didn’t want this twisty, suspenseful story to end.

I received an advanced reading copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. And I can honestly say I enjoyed this story and will recommend it to my friends. Well done!

The Twilight Wife, A. J. Banner’s newest book, is even more suspenseful than The Good Neighbor, her debut. This time, her story is set in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, and she does a fine job of placing the reader smack-dab in the middle of not only island living, but also island diving and all the terrors of Deception Pass—a swirling water passage between islands and an appropriate place for this story. Kyra Winthrop is a marine biologist who lost her memory after an accident scuba diving—a long term form of amnesia which has lasted three years or more. Her husband, Jacob, follows her everywhere, concerned about her memory, her stability, and perhaps her returning memory. The twists come in every chapter, keeping this reader enthralled. The suspense heightens amid the homespun locations and characters of the island as more and more threads of the accident, her marriage, her life return—slowly and inexorably. This book is hard to put down, and I didn’t. I read from cover to cover in one session. Brava A.J. Banner! When is the next one?
(I received an ARC and promised an honest review. This is it. Great book!)

A few short weeks ago, I opened my mailbox to find the most amazing book mail from Touchstone, a Simon & Schuster company. I had been hearing about this thrilling novel for months now from my fellow blogger friends and was beyond excited to know I'd soon get to read it! It is a complete honor to do a review for Ms. Banner and her publisher regarding The Twilight Wife. Special thanks to Ms. Jessica Roth at Simon & Schuster for getting this lovely book out to me. Thank you to Ms. Banner for sharing your amazing talent with the world of readers at your fingertips. I absolutely adored this novel and your style of writing. Congratulations on the success of The Twilight Wife.

The Twilight Wife: Memory makes us who we are. We remember falling in and out of love, deciding to marry or remain single. We remember the choices that define us. But what if you don't have that advantage?

On a remote island in the Pacific Northwest, marine biologist Kyra Winthrop struggles to recover from a diving accident that left her with a complex form of amnesia. With only brief flashes of the last four years of her life, her world has narrowed to the cozy yet secluded home where she lives with her devoted husband, Jacob. She recalls nothing of the last few years of her life, the accident, and her recovery in the hospital afterward.

Worse, Krya begins to suffer from dark visions-or are they memories?-of broken promises and cryptic relationships with the island residents, whom she believes to be her friends. And when glimpses of another man's face begin to appear in her mind, Kyra reluctantly begins to question her own dedication to her beloved husband. As she races to uncover her past, she'll find out that she's not who she thought she was, and neither are the people around her as the truth becomes a terrifying nightmare.

In the spirit of S.J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep and Mary Kubica's The Good Girl, The Twilight Wife is a wholly original, nuanced novel of suspense.

From the very beginning, I was drawn into this unforgettable story of a woman who believed she had everything in life, a caring and loving husband, a good job, a passion for her career and life...until an accident threatened to take away her fairytale. Her seemingly amazing husband is there by her side, every step of the way helping her remember their beautiful marriage from the past. But is it real, or is everything he saying and helping her remember all a lie? If I could have sat down with an entire day to myself, which will never happen until my son turns 18 and is out of my house (haha), I would have finished this novel in one sitting.

The Twilight Wife is one of the better psychological thrillers I've ever read. Ms. Banner has a talent for writing a page-turner. The drama, the lies, the deceit in this book are all simply on point. I had no idea how this book would end up until the very last word, and by the time the end came, I didn't want to close the book!! I cannot wait to get Ms. Banner's other book, the #1 New York Times Bestseller titled The Good Neighbor. I just cannot get enough of her writing style.

The Twilight Wife was so enthralling, it trapped and grabbed me in from page one. Every character had a purpose in the story, not a single line was wasted in the book and the storytelling has you on this island wishing you could just find out what the hell is going on with Kyra's husband, Jacob. He is just so creepy, and I knew something was just NOT right with him. The creepiest thing about this novel was that this story is so believable with all the details that it could actually happen to someone! And probably has somewhere! Kyra's marriage is full of such scary intensity. And I loved every page, every word of this novel. There was not one plot hole, and I feel that the ending was rounded up very well. I was left with closing my book with a sense of disappointment that it was finally over...I just didn't want it to end.

Bravo Ms. Banner. I give your newest novel, The Twilight Wife, 5/5 stars. I very rarely give books 5 stars unless they really stick with me, the writing was amazing and I will ALWAYS have the book on my shelf!! I highly recommend this book to everyone and have already given it as gifts to close friends! I just loved it so much! Thank you Ms. Banner for taking the time to discuss your book with me after I read it. You're such a kind soul and a gifted writer and I really do wish you the best in your writing career. The Twilight Wife is a sure-fire hit.

The Twilight Wife is available wherever books are sold.

I read this book during the twilight days right after New Year when I am not quite ready to get back to the real world after the holidays. I don't dare talk about plot as I am not normally a suspense reader and am likely to inadvertently reveal a few spoilers. But I enjoyed the book from page one and was engaged in the heroin's predicament right away. The setting is delicious, if you are partial to the briny coasts of the Pacific Northwest, and the earthy people who keep damp gardens growing lavender and thyme. The story is creepy because the shadowy people and memories exist in a brain that had been injured. Memories are not reliable. It is a short jump in logic for the protagonist to conclude that the people around her may not be reliable either. Eventually, her native instincts override what she thinks is true. She suspects that her head injury may not be the most significant thing that has gone wrong in her life. Read The Twilight Wife when you have some twilight time to kill. It will be worth it

I loved the charm of the island and all the marine biology! How I wish I could go to the northern west cost and see the orca! AJ Banner has created this story with beautiful detail about marine life and island charm, that I found myself caught up in the magic of the life that can be had there. And such happens with Kyra and the life that Jacob has made for her. Kyra loves Jacob's tender care and the help he is giving her. But memories cast shadows...

This story has just the right amount of tension and suspense. It is an incredible page Turner! I highly recommend this book!

After a diving accident strips her of a critical part of her memory, marine biologist Kyra Winthrop finds herself struggling to fit together the pieces of a shattered past. With the support and protection of her tight-knit community she slowly assembles a fragmented picture of what actually happened - a picture of psychosis unbound. Gripping and intelligent, this suspenseful new offering from A.J. Banner mines the depths of complex, traumatic memory loss and challenges readers to question the boundaries of love and trust.
Note: I received an Advanced Reader's copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Touchstone in exchange for an honest review.

In my opinion this story had great potential but the author didn’t supports Kyra’s decisions. I was more engaged in the book at the beginning. As the plot unravels and the reader learns the back story I found it unbelievable and couldn’t relate to Kyra.

In my opinion she is not the victim she wants to believe she is.
Much of the deception Kyra doesn’t recognize I found obvious from the start.

If you like psychological thrillers, don't miss this one. I started it and could not put it down. I loved everything about this book from the setting to the characters.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher as a part of the A.J. Banner Street Team in exchange for an honest review. Awesome!

Ok, I really loved A.J. Banner's first book, The Good Neighbor, but this new book, The Twilight Wife, totally blew my expectations. I love a good suspense book, and I was expecting to enjoy this one just fine, but I didn't expect to love it. But I did. I loved it! I instantly wanted to help Kyra understand herself and her life upon starting this book. This was a character I came to care for and I wanted her to find her way after the accident. I won't post any spoilers here, but I just can't believe that ending! I never saw that coming, and I never would have guessed it would turn out the way it did. Total shocker! I finished this book in two sittings, because the suspense just wouldn't let up! I probably would have finished the book in one sitting if time had permitted. I just had to find out more, to see what would happen next, and read on to find the truth within the lies and deception. 5 stars all the way. This is one book you can't miss.

The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in mid-January.

Smarter and more empathic (i.e. with phrases like "A cactus of prickles covers my skin") than your average made-for-literary-cliffhanger, Banner crafts a story from bits of the best (The Truman Show, Vertigo, and Long Kiss Goodnight) to create Kyra, a woman struck with an amnesic injury that keeps her guessing at her circa-the-past-4-years personal life into the finale twist ending.

After a terrible diving accident that left Kyra Winthrop with amnesia of the past four years of her life, she finds herself on a remote island in along the Washington state coast, with her husband Jacob. There is a sense of familiarity about everything, but something doesn’t feel quite right. As flashes of her memory start to come back, she starts to wonder if she’s losing her mind or if things are being kept from her.

This is one of those books that is difficult to talk about without giving things away, which I refuse to do, so I’m going to do my best. Here goes…

What a GREAT book! Almost immediately, I was engrossed in the story. The dynamics between her and her husband were strange from the get go, and it seemed so odd and particular that she should lose her memory of the exact number of years necessary to have no recollection of her husband. And now she’s on this island that feels familiar, where people recognize her, but she somehow feels not right, despite the familiarity. As little glimmers of could-be memory start coming back to her, reality becomes even more unclear, and she finally seeks the help of a therapist. She begins getting out more on her own, and more and more is revealed, until it all finally unravels and the veil is dropped.

By the end, I knew what she hadn’t figured out yet, but it was fun watching everything fall into place. There were some bits that were rather obvious, but not in a way that detracted from the story, or my enjoyment of it.

If you like a good mystery, one that will compel you to read it in one sitting, The Twilight Wife is a great choice.

Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.

Firstly, I received ARC of The Twilight Wife in exchange for an honest review.

A loving couple, a beautiful island home, what could be better? Things are not always what they seem. Gripping, you will never see it coming! It's been quite a while since I've been thrown for a loop by a book, it was a terrific spin.
By the end I found myself speaking out loud to Kyra, much the same way you might tell the person in a horror movie "Don't go in there".
Once again A.J. Banner does not disappoint.

Kyra has lost 4 years of her life's memories due to an accident. This story starts out revealing bits and pieces of her old life. As you read there are so many twists and turns in this story- the author keeps you guessing at what will happen next. I couldn't put the book down- I had to keep reading to find out who Kyra was, what her life was like before her accident, and how her story ended.
I received this book as a paper galley in exchange for an honest review. I would highly recommend this book to others.

I received a copy of The Twilight Wife through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Touchstone Publishing and A.J. Banner for this opportunity.
I read this book in three sittings... it was that good. Kyra Winthrop awakes from a head injury with only glimpses of her short-term memory. As she relies on her husband to care for her and help her regain her memories, she has flashes of another house, another man, another life. A story of obsession and deceit, you'll be guessing until he very end.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read quite a few of these type thrillers. The mysterious husband and wife dynamic is always intriguing. A.J. Banner has a way to write this story in a different and brilliant perspective. Kyra has lost her memory due to an accident. The question running through the book is Jacob or Aiden her true love? What happened in her life? The story unfolds quickly and there are plenty of twists to keep you reading. Unputdownable!

This was a domestic thriller with a new twist; I really enjoyed it. It's about creating an alternative reality and getting others to buy into it. Before the Trump administration, I would say that this plot would have been implausible. How can people be so gullible? But now I see that an individual can spin a web of lies and ensnare others into it. Someone can create an alternative reality and people around him believe in it. If others question the fantasy, that person will just deflect the criticism. In this book, it was: "Don't you remember that. . ."; "Why are you talking to him; he's crazy . . "; and "I told you that already". The ending felt a bit rushed and the bad guy was almost a supernatural being. Kyra drugs him and hits him here and there but he keeps coming after her. I liked the setting of the story, an isolated island with spotty Internet connection. I haven't visited the Washington state islands, but I think the setting is similar to Maine, with its tiny islands (which I have visited.) I have often thought wouldn't it be nice to spend a summer there, cut off from the world and relaxing. Ignorance is bliss. But now I can see that isolation can have a dangerous drawback. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Banner.

I received an ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review. Another great book by A.J. Banner. I enjoyed her first book so much I couldn't wait for her next one. I wasn't disappointed. The Twilight Wife is a suspenseful, enjoyable novel. I read it in one day because I just couldn't wait to find out what happened. Kyra, the lead character, and the reader are in this together. What Kyra knows, we know, absolutely no more. The brief glimpses of memory she gets are our only clue as to what really happened when she lost her memory. We learn as she learns. The anticipation grows and grows until the surprising ending. I wasn't expecting the way it ended. I was sure I had it figured out, but then came the curve ball. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good mystery. I also have to say A.J. is great at writing for the senses. In The Good Neighbor, her first book, she used the sense of smell to pull the reader into the story. In The Twilight Wife she uses the sense of sight in a similar way. When Kyra sees something and it jogs her memory, the reader is pulled into that memory, wanting desperately to help her along and pull the full memory out of the fog for her. Once again I look forward with great anticipation to her next book

I received an advance copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

Reading has always been my greatest pleasure so when I was asked to read THE TWILIGHT WIFE I jumped at the chance having enjoyed all of A.J. Banner's books to date. Her ability to immediately pull the reader into the story and develop the characters quickly and deeply is an amazing gift of few writers. I literally couldn't wait to climb into bed and read the next chapter, and next. I found myself staying up way past my bedtime to finish that "one more chapter".

The story is gripping, sometimes scary and always beautifully written. You are pulled into the world of Kyra Winthrop and immediately resonate with her story and what she's been and is going through. I don't want to give it all away but trust me when I tell you there are more twists and turns then a roller coaster ride.

Do yourself a favor, grab a copy, a cup of your favorite beverage and curl up with this book. But be prepared to be very tired the next day as you'll do as I did and not be able to put it down!

Once again, AJ Banner paints strikingly detailed, beautiful pictures with words in this atmospheric thriller. I can vividly imagine the story happening in a very real place, with very real people who are all inexplicably connected to each other. Lots of twists and turns about who might be untrustworthy, about which character knows what about the "happily married" couple, and about the relationships between Kyra and each character. One of the main characters made my alarm bells ring right from the start, but I was kept never really knowing if the alarm bells were justified , right until the end. A very enjoyable read; received as an Advance Copy.

Touchstone and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Twilight Wife. This is my honest opinion of the book.

34 year old marine biologist Kyra Winthrop lives a quiet life on Mystic Island with her husband, Jacob. Having suffered from severe memory loss due to a diving accident, Kyra has to rely on her husband's recollection for most of her past few years. When Kyra starts to have flashbacks that do not coincide with her husband's view, will her dreams and nightmares finally help her to see the truth?

The Twilight Wife reminded me of a made for television movie, with all of the psychological aspects and suspenseful and thrilling moments. The plot seemed too familiar and I was pretty well certain of the outcome early on in the book. The author gave the reader too many clues, as the story was too transparent. I did like Kyra as the main character, as her strength and determination in her search for the truth came through well. The Twilight Wife was a quick read and might be liked by those looking for a good psychological suspense novel.

I received this e-book through Netgalley for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author for this chance.
I do have to say I loved this book. It kept me going, and I couldn't stop reading. I would have never guessed that the plot would have gone where it did. There was a sinister tone to the book, so you knew something was happening, but I never expected it to go where it did. This is a real winner, and it's well worth the time to sink into.

Kyra, a highly skilled diver and marine biologist has a terrible accident while diving with her husband Jacob in dangerous waters and can no longer remember the last few years of her life or the accident. While recovering at her home on a remote island conveniently called Mystic Island, she begins to remember snippets of her accident and things don’t seem to jive with what her husband is telling her. She has memories of a man named Aiden and feels strongly that she was attracted to him at one point and maybe even had begun an affair with him before her accident. She has multiple encounters with people on the island who knew her before she lost her memory and is really beginning to feel as though something strange is going on. Who can she trust and what happened to her during that accident?

This story is in the ever popular Thriller category. It seems like every month a new novel is released about a woman who has lost her memory after a strange accident who is living with a man that holds the key to her past. This story is no different. Kyra is another unreliable narrator so the reader is left not knowing who to trust. There are lots of red herrings in this story in order to throw the reader off the trail. If you pay close attention, you may figure out where this one is heading. For those of you who enjoy these stories and aren’t burnt out by this genre, pick this one up. I read the previous novel this author wrote called The Good Neighbor which I enjoyed more than this one. I gave The Twilight Wife 2 Stars on GoodReads because I am unfortunately part of the burnt out crowd when it comes to these types of stories. Everyone is trying to write the next Gone Girl or Girl On The Train so we are seeing a ton of similar stories being published. If I find a book in this genre that isn’t predictable and a cookie cutter version of ten others, I will be sure to let you know!

A diving accident stole the last three years from Kyra’s memory. From page one I was immediately drawn into Kyra’s world, trying to discover and remember. Kyra’s life seems so ideal with a loving and caring husband but why do things not feel right? I honestly could not put this book down until I knew how it turned out. As Kyra started to piece together the puzzle of the last three years, my anxiety built with each turn of the page. A quick read that is easily done over a weekend. I’m definitely going to read it a second time.

This is the second book by the author, A.J. Banner, that I’ve had the privilege to read an advance copy and in exchange leave an honest review. I’ve enjoyed both but feel she has really notched up the psychological thriller aspect with The Twilight Wife. If you like this type of genre and twists, this is a must read.

Just finished this latest suspense novel from A.J. Banner. She won me over with The Good Neighbor - one of the first thrillers I wasn't able to figure out until the end. The Twilight Wife is quite a mental rollercoaster, as you follow the journey back to reality of a marine biologist with severe memory loss due to a diving accident. What a ride! You will suspect everyone with whom she interacts, and there are definitely some gasp-out-loud moments. As always, with Ms. Banner, the breathtaking Pacific Northwest frames the story beautifully and is nearly its own character. You will not be disappointed. Terrific read!

I really enjoyed the Twilight Wife, it was a very fast read which is great as you won't be able to put it down! I love books with unreliable narrators, Kyra can't remember the last four years and often can't remember last week. She's trying to remember by asking lots of questions, but it's hard to figure out if the townspeople are lying, her husband is lying, or if she just can't remember the truth. Great psychological suspense!

I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy in return for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is told from first person point of view about a person who has amnesia. I would have probably read in one setting if I hadn't had to work. Instead I made it through it in 2 days. Had problems putting this book down until I reached the end. This is 2nd book I have read by this offer. Looking forward to the next one!!

What a great read! The mysterious story of Kyra Munin, who suffers short term memory loss from a scuba diving accident with her husband, Jacob. As some of her memories try to surface, Kyra can't be sure if they really happened or if they are fantasy. As she makes several discoveries while she's looking for answers, she can't help thinking.....is she being deceived by her own husband? A page-turning, suspenseful book you won't be able to put down!!

The Twilight Wife --Note: I received an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.-- Once I started reading, I could hardly put THE TWILIGHT WIFE down! It's a page-turner, yet better-written and more cerebral and atmospheric than your typical domestic thriller. Wonderful descriptions of the PacNW, to where it actually becomes another character. The plot unfolds at just the right (tantalizing!) pace. As memories slowly come back to Kyra Wintrhop, always in pieces, she must painstakingly fit them together. But like a puzzle, she can't quite see the whole picture. She can only guess and grope for more memories from her injured brain, and from those around her. But the more she remembers and learns, the more she doubts whom she can trust, including herself. Clearly there is betrayal; but is it her own? When the puzzle finally reveals enough of the picture for her to see what's happening, she knows she's in danger. As if in a Nautilus shell, Kyra's caught in a spiral of memories, lies, and betrayals. Can she get out in time to save her life?

The only disappointing part about this book is that it had to end! I LOVED it. As an avid reader, I have favorite authors and am always looking for new ones. AJ Banner is a new favorite. The intrigue and suspense are compelling. The characters are layered, real and believable. When I had to put the book down, I found myself thinking of the protagonist and hoping she was okay. I can't wait for Banner's next thriller. I'll be at the head of the line!

Reminiscent of one of my favorite authors, Agatha Christie, Banner's The Twilight Wife had me guessing (incorrectly) what might have happened up until the last few pages. As a busy woman, I appreciate that rare book that steals my focus and The Twilight Wife did that in spades. Having enjoyed the author's previous book, The Good Neighbor, I look forward to what she writes in the future.

This isn't a complicated story, but it held my attention and kept me interested enough to read it straight through. There are some surprise twists throughout. It actually strikes me as perfectly suited to become a screenplay for a Lifetime Tv movie. I did not enjoy it as much as "The Good Neighbor" ... however when a book holds me ransom like this one did it certainly merits 4 stars.

A.J. Banner returns following The Good Neighbor, with the powerfully evocative THE TWILIGHT WIFE —an intricate conundrum, a modern-age twisty domestic psychological mystery suspense puzzle of lies, secrets, deception and an intriguing past. A heart-pounding adventure of one woman's desperate search for answers. Uncovering the truth about those we love. A story, the past, an obsession, a forgotten identity, and pieces of memories- just out of reach.

Kyra Winthrop is recovering from a harrowing diving accident. Her memory is still cluttered, and foggy. Her doting husband, Jacob, recounts her past to her, filling in the gaps left by an unusual form of memory loss. When Kyra begins to remember details that don’t align with what she knows to be true, she must fight through her hazy memory, her isolation, and her own suspicions to discover what—and whom—she can trust.

What happened on the fateful dive on which a woman loses her memory and her life? She is desperate to learn the truth. Where nothing is as it seems. A constant state of perplexity and confusion. Lies, deception, and dark secrets are revealed slowly as the threads are unraveled. Kyra is a thirty-four-year-old marine biologist currently recovering from a head injury. She taught at the Seattle University previously they say, and yet she has no memory of those times. Now she has only this secluded Mystic Island in the Pacific Northwest, where the wind blows in cold from the sea.

She has a husband, Jacob who sticks close by her side, follows her everywhere, her guardian angel. She also has a peculiar recurring dream. She fractured her skull in a diving accident near Deception Pass. The waters are supposedly gorgeous, but deadly. The island haunts her, but she has no conscious memory of the area. Just like water, and things of the sea; they can be dangerous, but beautiful.

She has no memory of her decision to move here. Nor does she recognize the jagged scar on her right thumb, (from a dive) per her husband, Jacob. She barely even remembers her husband. Why does she forget only the four years she missed?

They say her name is Kyra Winthrop (she dropped her maiden name Munin). She has been married to Jacob for nearly three years. Who is this man? How did she end up here? She is only a shadow of her former self. When she stops taking the meds to clear her mind, she begins a computer search. Jacob was a computer genius educated at MIT and founded his own software company. What else will she find? She had to keep things secret until she solves the mysteries of her past. She is grasping at any clue or person she can find, for answers.

Who is Aiden Finlay? She feels there is someone else. Her husband’s friend? She is disoriented. Does she have repressed memories? Could something bad have happened? Traumatic? Another diver?

What if her brain is choosing to block out not trauma, but something else altogether? Can she believe Jacob? She questions her marriage. What secrets is her husband hiding? Was there another man? What about Jacob’s past? From fuzziness, the fog, to dreaming of a yellow house; where nothing is as it appears. From constant confusion, Kara sees herself kissing Aiden one minute and Jacob the next. Was there a third diver?

The more she learns, she becomes afraid for her life, and she had to figure a way out of this madness – a dark nagging cloud of doubt. What was Jacob holding back? A trail of cryptic clues, and a computer genius husband, who is holding all the cards. Piece by piece, everything her husband has told her falls under suspicion. Whom can she trust? Why is Jacob lying to her? Who is this other man who thinks she looks like someone else? She wants her own grasp of memories, not what her husband has told her. She feels something is missing.

“I feel as though my memories stop short, before the storm, at the edge of a precipice leading down into darkness.”

In trying to make sense of her world, Kyra learns about anterograde amnesia (difficulty storing new memories) and retrograde amnesia (difficulty retrieving old ones). She begins explores the island, in search for answers to evoke memories—seashells, the contents of her purse, photographs, and the local shops, the B&B inn, and coastal tide pools. (loved this part, which keeps your senses on high alert). In addition, she seeks out everyone she can to help her find answers.

A frighteningly cool portrait of a serious sadist, THE TWILIGHT WIFE is a gripping, claustrophobia-inducing thriller. Looks are deceiving. The most dangerous kind. Utterly compelling exploration through the darker side of the human psyche. Banner creates a strong sense of ambiguity, darkness, confusion with a constant state of obscurity, a perplexing mystery, and an intriguing haunting puzzle.

Jacob and Kyra are both fascinating mysteries, and Banner knows how to maintain the tension from the first page to the last twisty turn. A nice addition (-secondary characters: Van and Nancy, as well as Doug, enjoyed his connection). As a reader, you do not know whom to trust, and who is dangerous.

Compellingly hypnotic with a spellbinding seaside remote setting, adding to the ongoing strong sense of foreboding and mystery, combined with beautiful lyrical prose, well researched, and fascinating sea life, making this an absorbing read.

For fans of Kate Moretti, Kimberly S. Belle, Mary Kubica, Susan Crawford, and BA Paris. Looking forward to the next! I also purchased the audiobook, narrated by Cassandra Campbell, my Top 2016 Audio Narrator for a mesmerizing performance! She has an ideal voice for the role, with her soothing voice to transport you. Ideal for book clubs or discussions. Would make a great movie.

A special thank you to Touchstone & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JDCMustReadBooks

I have followed her work for years.
She drew me in with her vivid expressions and clear descriptions of the scenes. Im one of those who sees what is wriiten vividly and I truly enjoy her stories and hope to continue for years to come. I.am a fan!

The premise is interesting, and there are some twists---however, those twists are so ridiculous that I basically rolled my eyes. Moreover, the characters are really one-dimensional, and sub-plots that are hinted at are never developed or explained. Very unsatisfying. (I would recommend the Marriage Lie or All the Missing Girls over The Twilight Wife.)

I would like to thank NetGalley and Touchstone Publishing for the copy of The Twilight Wife
by A.J. Banner. This book was a mystery, as the main character gradually regains her memory, following a head injury incurred during a diving accident. As she pieces together a marriage and a life on an island, that doesn't quite feel right, the story takes some unexpected turns.

Very unique and interesting way to tell a story. A.J. had me guessing right along as to what sort of mystery would develop and how Kyra's memory would return. A definite twist in every chapter, full of suspense and personality. I can only imagine how vulnerable one who has no memory is to the world, and how surrounding ourselves with trustworthy people is so important!

Banner doles out just enough information at just the right time to keep the reader flipping the pages. A fast paced read with a compact list of characters. Although not as tense as it could have been, this was a solid psychological suspense novel that does not disappoint! Thank you Touchstone and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Twilight Wife begins in the aftermath of a diving accident that has robbed Kyra Winthrop of memories of her life. The tension builds as pieces of Kyra’s memory gradually surface, triggered in part by conversations with residents and friends on the Pacific Northwest island where her husband Jacob has taken her to recover. The more she remembers, the more unsettled she feels.  Early on and throughout the book Banner plants seeds of deception foreshadowing the truth to come. Banner did a terrific job weaving subtext and thematic elements as the story progressed that supported Kyra’s doubt, states of mind, and impending doom the truth would bring. The Twilight Wife is a compelling story that was hard to put down. I received a galley of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Confused is the right word, rather than in the twilight. Twilight? This girl's lost. Husband, friend, lover, neighbor, psychologist....they're all around yet no strings, no common threads...very confusing. With 50 or so pages to go we're let in on the secret. Could have been a good short story. Not a great novel.

Wow! Just wow! I finally got to sit and read this book in one day! I read The Good Neighbor and was so excited for this next book! A.J. Banner is amazing she writes a book that makes you feel right in the book. I'm hoping for a 2nd book to these characters as I would love to know how things turn out. I'm a sucker for getting attached to the characters and always hoping another one will follow. Truthfully, I'd be happy with any book she writes because she's just that good!

The Twilight Wife is a great read - possibly even better than her previous book, The Good Neighbor! The story-line is interesting, full of suspense, fast-moving, great characters and plot! It involves a woman who has lost her memory from the last 4 years of her life due to a diving accident, and slowly is starting to remember. There are surprise twists and turns, and leaves you wanting to check the last page to find out the truth - truth is memory!! I had trouble putting the book down until I read the last page. I highly recommend this book - read it , enjoy and wait impatiently for A. J. Banner's next book!

O...M...G...!!! This book was AMAZING!!! I couldn't stop reading it, and I didn't want it to end!!! So many twists and turns - and I didn't even see the BIG one coming!! This book will pull you in completely!! I could relate with Kyra so much, I felt like I was her!

This is my 2nd AJ Banner book, and I will be a fan for life!!!

I received a free pre-release copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review of the book!!!

This was probably the best thriller I've read this year! I raced through this in less than 24hrs! It started just a little bit slow, but the build up was quick and once the twists and turns started coming I was hooked and COULD NOT stop reading. This psychological thriller plays out through the eyes of Kyra, a marine biologist who is suffering from a bizarre memory loss after a diving accident. I really enjoyed this perspective and seeing as her memories came back and the suspence built. This was a great, fast-paced, egde-of-your-seat read!

When you live what you thought was the " ideal life", and then in a instant it's gone! Kyra questions everything she once knew. Was her life all that ideal? Is Jacaob really the caring husband he presents himself as? As Kyra regains the loss of her memory things just don't add up. Who can she trust? What mystery is linked to Kyra's accident? This book will make you wonder, and take you on a adventure you won't expect. Thank you for the ARC Copy, for my honest review. This was my review. ??

I received a copy of The Twilight Wife for free in return for my honest review. There is much to recommend this novel, and others have already spoken eloquently to the tangled web that haunts the book from the first page. In addition, I particularly love the way A.J. Banner so deftly evokes the sights, smells, and atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest such that the setting itself comes alive as a compelling and unpredictable character at the heart of The Twilight Wife. I was transported to the island and, like Kyra herself, held captivated—or perhaps one should say captive. Even as I write this, I can smell the sea...

I absolutely loved this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to continue reading! What a page turner and what a well written book. We can really see ourselves on that island going through everything with our heroine!! Loved it and can't wait for AJ Banner's next book!!!
I did receive an advance reader copy but even if I had not, I know I would have LOVED this book!!!!

I received an advanced copy of this book and I have to say, it is riveting. I couldn't put it down until I had finished the entire book. I love the settings in AJ Banner's books. You can picture yourself in the forests of Washington State. What can I say but I loved it. Truly an excellent read filled with secretive moments. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

If you like girl on the train you will love this book. It's about a girl who loses her memory and goes home with a husband she does not know. As she starts to recognize things it gets more and more suspenseful.

I received an ARC of this book from the author. I thoroughly enjoyed it; couldn't stop reading it. I really enjoyed attempting to unravel the mystery. Great story line and characters. Love this authors work.

Wow this book kept me guessing the whole time! It's suspenseful, full of twists and turns. You think you have it figured out and then more twists, what they hey?? It's a short book, but keep you totally engrossed and you don't want to put it down!

I am not usually a big fan of memory loss books because it's so hard to dive in and keep interest. This book did not disappoint, I read the book in 2 days cause I could not stop turning the pages. I don't want to give any spoilers so if u want to know the story read the book!

This by far is best book of 2017, you can't compare it to any other book because it's a standalone. I recommend you read it, then you'll see why, I said best of 2017. I do believe it should be a movie.

Images evoked by this suspenseful story remind me of the stark black & white scenes of Gaslight or du Maurier's Rebecca. Neo-gothic noir perhaps? Anyway, a great read when the power goes out and the wind is scratching branches across your window. Thanx to the publisher for the advance review copy.

I picked this up because I liked the cover and title and I was totally sucked in by about the tenth page. It was a treat (as much as psychological suspense can be?) because it wasn't as shocking and disturbing as Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train.

I am not usually a big fan of memory loss books because it's so hard to dive in and keep interest. This book did not disappoint, I read the book in 2 days cause I could not stop turning the pages. I don't want to give any spoilers so if u want to know the story read the book!

This by far is best book of 2017, you can't compare it to any other book because it's a standalone. I recommend you read it, then you'll see why, I said best of 2017. I do believe it should be a movie.

The Twilight Wife was an exhilarating read full of twist and turns with an unpredictable ending. Character portrayal was clear and concise and scene descriptions were made easy to imagine. I highly recommend getting a copy, carving out some time with a cup of coffee and escape to another place.

Images evoked by this suspenseful story remind me of the stark black & white scenes of Gaslight or du Maurier's Rebecca. Neo-gothic noir perhaps? Anyway, a great read when the power goes out and the wind is scratching branches across your window. Thanx to the publisher for the advance review copy.

I picked this up because I liked the cover and title and I was totally sucked in by about the tenth page. It was a treat (as much as psychological suspense can be?) because it wasn't as shocking and disturbing as Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train.

A. J. Banner can write--I always enjoy writing that flows with a balance of function and craftsmanship and creativity. Not my usual sort of story--a bit too much fretting for me. Still, for what it is, it's a fine piece of prose and that's what carried me through.

Unbelievably suspenseful! It kept me turning the pages; where there was a twist there was a turn, where a turn, a twist!

The only thing that disappoints me is that there isn't a six-star option! LOL!

I really heard a lot of great things about this book. I would like to think the publisher for giving me a copy of the book. The book starts off great. A young married woman, has a scuba diving accident, and loses four year of memories. She is now living with her husband on a not highly populated island. She begins to slowly remember small pieces of her life. I feel the author give away too many clues. I had the ending figured out 100 pages before the book ended. The ending was flat. I rarely give bad reviews but this book just wasn't that great.

This is quite possibly the worst novel I have ever read. The plot is ludicrous, all the men are handsome and start up their own software companies, the island is beautiful, the food is perfect, mysterious clues crop up with metronomic regularity, the heroine is saved by a handsome man, and apparently no one sees the problem with a brain-damaged woman being left with the care of a newborn. Ludicrous.

So disappointing to read a supposed thriller that has cardboard characters who by and large you really don’t care about. The plot becomes laborious and the writing is lacking in just so many ways. A mystery romance novel at best. It was slog to just get through it.

Wow! Was really disappointed with this one. Had good reviews but what a bore! Very short book...thank goodness and about as interesting as a tuna sandwich. Predictable from the first.I hate to be so hard but there should be better writers out there somewhere!

I was really looking forward to A.J. Banner's next book after reading The Good Neighbor. Finding out it was about an amnesiac was a bonus. Unfortunately, I was wildly disappointed.

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson is one of my favorite books. It was obvious from the beginning that this book was similar. It could have been a success. I like finding a similar book to the ones I really like. But the character development was not there at all. I've read plenty of amnesiac novels, and it truly is possible to develop a character with amnesia. There was no mystery...it was obvious her partner was involved. It was also obvious he was another fake husband. Sigh.

Sorry, Ms. Banner. I wanted to love it. I'm still going to look forward to your next book...hopefully it will have the same depth and character development of The Good Neighbor.

This book wasn't bad, but I didn't really enjoy it, mostly because it has basically the same plot as one of the novels it's likened to in the blurb above (I will put the title below, to avoid spoilers for those who still wish to read this). Because I'd already read that novel, I guessed the twist ending to this one in the first chapter. As I kept reading, I kept thinking it had to be a red herring and something even better was going to happen ... but no, it turned out just the same. If you've read the books they compare it to in that copy, then I would skip this one.
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SJ Watson's Before I Go To Sleep has the same plot as this book, but was a much more gripping read with better-developed characters, more suspense/fear, higher stakes, and more urgency. If you haven't read either book, I suggest you read Before I Go To Sleep instead of this.