VBT# The Last Wife - Matt McGregor

Review: The Last Wife - Matt McGregor - May 2025

What starts as a modern fairytale quickly spirals into a chilling psychological thriller in Matt McGregor’s intense and suspenseful novel. Olivia, a humble waitress with artistic dreams, believes she’s won the romantic lottery when she meets the charming and wealthy Lachlan Gibson. Swept off her feet by his attention and encouragement, Olivia is quickly immersed in a world of luxury, love and control.

After moving into Lachlan’s lavish home, the cracks in their whirlwind romance begin to show. Small, unsettling things begin to unravel: curious glances from locals, hushed whispers, and a name that Olivia can't escape - Yasmine Gibson. Yasmine, it turns out, was Lachlan’s first wife who died in childbirth just eight months earlier. This revelation alone is shocking, but what’s even more disturbing is how quickly Lachlan moved on—and how much Olivia is starting to resemble Yasmine in every aspect.

As Olivia digs deeper, her dream life turns into a nightmare. From dictated hair colors and fashion choices to a honeymoon eerily identical to Yasmine’s, Olivia realizes she’s not just a wife she’s a replacement. The psychological manipulation escalates when Olivia discovers that Lachlan has been sabotaging their contraception in a twisted attempt to trap her into motherhood. That’s when she decides enough is enough. But escaping Lachlan may not be so easy.

A letter hidden away by Yasmine reveals a terrifying truth: she, too, had tried to leave and Lachlan had locked her away. Could he have killed Yasmine? And is Olivia destined for the same fate?

Matt McGregor masterfully builds tension, creating a slow-burning sense of dread that grips the reader until the very last page. The character of Olivia is both relatable and resilient, a woman whose strength grows as she uncovers the dark truth behind Lachlan’s perfect façade. The themes of control, identity, and autonomy are explored with chilling realism.

What made this read even more special for me was discovering that Matt McGregor is a New Zealand author. As a Kiwi reader, it’s always exciting to support local talent, especially when the writing delivers such international-quality thrills.

If you're a fan of domestic noir or psychological thrillers in the vein of Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris or The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, you won’t want to miss this gripping tale.

Goodreads -https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231981108-the-last-wife