The Wife by Alafair Burke is a domestic thriller about a woman named Angela who is the wife of a successful bestselling author and economics professor. When her husband is accused of sexual harassment by a college intern, and then shortly after, of an even more abhorrent crime toward another woman, Angela is forced to question whether she truly knows the man she married. She also must grapple with unwanted media attention as she tries to keep her tragic past a secret.
What makes The Wife so engaging is its state as both a psychological thriller and a crime novel. Along with becoming ensnared in Angela’s psychological battle, we become entangled in a legal battle as well. And because the author has served as a Deputy District Attorney and has specialized in domestic violence crimes, the legal details of the novel feel authentic. All the little complexities that go into gathering evidence for a case are fascinating. And we also get a glimpse into the thought process behind a defense attorney’s decisions, which is equally fascinating.
This novel offers multiple perspectives. We get the first person point of view from Angela, the wife, and the third person point of view from the detective involved in the case, Detective Corrine Duncan. The switch in POVs works to keep readers feeling wary, as we attempt to determine who can and can’t be trusted.
Personally, I really grew to love Detective Duncan. She has this funny and honest, yet subdued way about her that made her parts my favorite. I especially enjoyed her banter with ADA Brian King.
One thing that really hindered my enjoyment of the novel was that I guessed the major twist pretty early on. Therefore, there was no “wow” factor for me. Though I can’t help but wonder: did I guess correctly because the novel is predictable or is this simply a testament to my reading too many thrillers lately? I think it might be the latter! And there were a couple of other twists that did catch me by surprise.
My other gripe is that one particular aspect of the mystery was not fully revealed or resolved, and if it was, it went over my head.
While the ending is slightly dissatisfying, overall, The Wife is relevant, totally captivating and can be devoured in a couple of sittings. One of this novel’s greatest strengths is its topical exploration of the dynamics of the #metoo movement, in addition to the way mass media/social media functions today to serve the public with instant gratification,
My Rating: 3/5
Check out The Wife on GoodReads.
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