Book Review: The Wrong Woman by O.J. Mullen

Please join me in welcoming O.J. Mullen to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his novel, The Wrong Woman.

Everyone has secrets. Are yours worth dying for?

Julia Sutherland isn’t too sure about her new colleague. Ellis Kirkbride is friendly, charismatic and handsome, but there’s just something about him – a bit too slick, a bit too confident, and he stands a bit too close. Normally she’d share her concerns with her husband Rob, but he’s been distant lately and Julia has a secret he mustn’t find out.

Ellis Kirkbride thought he had found the right woman. She was everything he could want but she didn’t want him. And that was unacceptable…

In a tale of twisted love and chilling revenge, bestseller O.J. Mullen will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Perfect for fans of K. L Slater, Claire Douglas and Sue Watson.

*****

Julia feels that life is pretty good. She is happily married to Rob, has a job at one of the top marketing agencies in Glasgow and leads a team she loves. When she gets a chance to build a campaign for a big new development, the only downside is she’s now having to work with the agency’s new recruit, the successful Ellis Kirkbride.

I loved the premise of this novel when I heard it. I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for The Wrong Woman.

Told from the point of view of multiple people, I liked that we got to see this story in this way. The characters are an interesting and varied group of people. Julia is likeable and has a strong moral compass. All she wants to do is advance her career without having to step on anyone to do it. She really doesn’t deserve some of the things that get thrown her way.

The plot moves very well and I found it full of twists and turns. I was trying to figure out how the first chapter fit with the rest of the story and because of all this, I couldn’t put it down, even reading way past my bedtime.

I feel that this story and the themes it covers raises some interesting questions surrounding responsibility for your actions vs. childhood trauma. Does the later in any way explain away some behaviours in adult life? Of course, there are some things where it’s a categorical no but it’s certainly something to think about.

O.J. Mullen does a very good job at building the tension and suspense. It isn’t long before we learn who the villain is but the writing still gripped me as I wondered what was going to happen and how the book would end.

The Wrong Woman is a gripping, compelling gem of a physiological thriller and I enjoyed it very much. I even feel that there could be more to this story beyond its conclusion. I am not saying any more than that.

This book is a perfect addition to that summer book list.

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.) 

About O.J. Mullen–

Owen Mullen is a McIlvanney Crime Book Of The Year long-listed novelist. He is the novel of several crime, gangland and psychological thriller series.

Say hello to Owen via Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to his newsletter. 

The Wrong Woman was released by Boldwood Books on 17th July 2024. Click to buy on Amazon and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.