Quick facts

• Series: Mrs Barnes series, Book 2
• Genre: Psychological domestic thriller
• Main character: Mrs Barnes, an ordinary over 40 year old wife and mother
• Setting: A remote villa in Europe
• Themes/tropes: Revenge, friends supporting each other, midlife empowerment
• Trigger warnings: Violence in the home
• Formats: eBook and Paperback
• paperback ISBN-13: 
• Keywords: Over 40 ordinary woman lead characters fight back and finds herself

Who is Mrs Barnes?

Mrs Barnes is a totally fictional character created by author, Gwyn Bennett. She wanted to create a female character who could be a heroine and kick butt, but who was just an ordinary woman, not an ex Special Forces operative, or Spy. She also wanted her not to be young and fit, but just like most women who are mothers, wives, and hold down careers. Mrs Barnes lacks confidence, is overweight, unfit and thinks her best days are behind her. But, she has a fantastic group of girlfriends who support her and stand by her when she needs them the most.  

Perfect for fans of…

• Readers who love The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.
• Strong female protagonists who lead ordinary lives and find extraordinary strength when they need it
• Short chapters and fast pace that you won’t want to put down
• More than one twist that you won’t see coming
• Ticking clock, fast action, emotional roller-coaster, vigilante fight back
• Die Hard meets Home Alone vibe

Reading order

• Mrs Barnes (Book 1)
• Mrs Barnes & Friends (Book 2) On pre-order, published March 2027

Formats and where to buy Mrs Barnes & Friends

• eBook and paperback
• Amazon and request it at your local book store or library

Mrs Barnes & Friends FAQs

What genre is it? 

It is a domestic psychological action thriller with high tension, close-to-home danger and a midlife woman pushed beyond breaking point.

Is it fast-paced? 

Yes, definitely. Readers called the first book, Mrs Barnes ‘heart pounding’ and say they are ‘shell-shocked’ by the end.

What vibe is it? 

Fast, high-pressure suspense with a strong fight-back action.

Is Mrs Barnes a “typical” action heroine? 

No. She’s ordinary, overlooked and underestimated. Yet she has hidden strength that comes from grit, quick thinking, and refusing to let the bad guys win and hurt her family. 

Is it more psychological or more action? 

Both: psychological pressure and fear drive the story, with escalating confrontation after a no-turning back moment means Mrs Barnes has to keep making survival decisions as the drama builds.

How intense is it? Is the violence graphic? 

There is violence, this is effectively a home invasion story where Mrs Barnes is fighting for her life and that of her family, but it’s not graphically described in detail.

What is the setting? 

A remote holiday villa in Europe.

Is it suitable if I like Frieda McFadden,  

Yes if you enjoy the psychological tension with down-to-earth characters and fast-paced writing, also like Alice Feeney and Lisa Jewell. 

Is Mrs Barnes & Friends in Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited? 

Yes, Mrs Barnes and Mrs Barnes & Friends are in KU and so available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers to read for free. 

Are chapters short/fast and easy to binge? 

Yes if you enjoy the psychological tension with down-to-earth characters and fast-paced writing like Freida McFadden.

Does it have a strong empowerment and revenge arc? 

Yes absolutely, it’s about  a midlife woman faced with a situation in which she can lose not only her life, but also that of those she loves the most. She’s forced to stand up to people she thinks are stronger and more lethal that she is, but with the help of her friends, her anger at them coming into her home and threatening her family means she rises to the challenge.