Small Town Secrets: Review of The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

What’s my next beach read? Ah, the age old question. I’m partial to a good summer thriller, and I’m always on the lookout for those fun, sexy mysteries to throw in my tote bag and get lost in while laying under an oversized beach umbrella. When I came across the synopsis for May Cobb’s latest novel The Hunting Wives, I knew it would be the latest addition to my list. 

Published this past May, The Hunting Wives takes the reader on a wild ride through rich society in a small Southern town. What makes the wives of Mapleton Texas tick? Keep reading to find out.

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The Hunting Wives Summary

Sophie O’Neill has everything a person could ever ask for. Having given up the fast paced lifestyle of Chicago and relocated to the sleepy town of Mapleton Texas, where she spent time as a teen, she has time to really appreciate all of the wonderful things in her life. A doting husband and adorable son, friends that she’s reconnected with since moving back to town, a beautiful house and lifestyle blog she’s building from the ground up. 

However the novelty seems to have worn off quickly, and Sophie finds herself a little bored and listless, searching for something more exciting to fill her days. Specifically, she’s searching for someone like Margot Banks, a wealthy socialite and head of a small exclusive clique who have dubbed themselves the Hunting Wives. Rich Southern women getting together to indulge in some drinking, shooting, and what they affectionately refer to as “hunting”. What could possibly go wrong?

Sophie quickly learns that the wives’ social activities are not as innocent as they appear at first glance, but she can’t help but be swept up by the salaciousness of it all. More specifically, she’s drawn to Margot in a way that she can’t-or won’t-admit to herself or her family. Things take a deadly turn when a body is discovered on Margot’s property, right in the spot where the wives go shooting. Now, Sophie finds herself amongst the shortlist of suspects, and she’ll have to fight to uncover the truth before she loses her friends, family, and maybe even her life.

The Hunting Wives: Sexy Summer Fun

This book is the definition of a fast paced beach read. It’s full of mystery, intrigue and enough secrets to keep a person entertained while they’re spending some time laying in the sand or by the pool. May Cobb knows what the summer crowd is looking for. The Hunting Wives brings the reader into the world of upper class suburbia, which we all know is one of the scariest places that you can be. 

As Sophie is pulled deeper and deeper into shooting excursions and too much wine, I found myself wanting to reach into the page and shake her over and over again until she regained some of her senses. She loses her sense of self and morals a little quickly for my taste, particularly with one of the actual most perfect husbands I’ve ever seen put to print. Alas, reasonable thinking and self control are not high up on the list of traits of the character in the story, which I’ll admit does make The Hunting Wives that much more fast paced and fun to devour.

That said, the twists in The Hunting Wives are so, so fun. It’s difficult to guess what shocking new turn the story will take next. It’s the perfect kind of popcorn thriller; a small town, a shocking murder and more secrets than you can imagine.

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Final Thoughts

The Hunting Wives is the kind of summer read that’s the perfect literary escape for your next beach or cottage trip. Did I have trouble understanding several of the characters’ decisions throughout the story? You bet I did, but I think that’s part of what makes this type of popcorn thriller so addictive. You never truly know where it will take you. If you love a fast paced, sexy mystery, this one’s for you.