What is this about?: Angela’s life comes crashing down when her husband Jason is accused of sexual harassment and then rape. And then murder.
What else is this about?: Angela is deathly afraid that her secret — her past — will come out when the media starts to investigate him.
Blurb
‘A subtly sneaky, emotionally complex, and utterly addictive novel of psychological suspense.’ – Lisa Scottoline
The stunning new domestic thriller from the New York Times-bestselling, Edgar-nominated author of The Ex
When Angela met Jason Powell, while catering a function in the Hamptons, she assumed their romance would be a fling. But, Jason, a brilliant economics professor at NYU, had other plans, and they married the following summer. The marriage meant a fresh start, a chance for Angela and her young son to move to Manhattan where no one knew of her tragic past.
Six years later, her husband has become a successful and celebrated liberal figurehead, but when a college intern and then another woman come forward with allegations against him, their perfect life begins to unravel. Jason insists he is innocent, but Angela is forced to ask how well she ever really knew her husband, and if she can afford to stand by him and risk her own past being revealed.
Stars: 4/5
Whew.
Angela is happily married to Jason, who loves her son Spencer as if he is Jason’s own. They’ve been happily married, and now Jason’s star is on the rise, and Angela is half proud and anxious that her past will come to light as interest in Jason grows, and the media starts to notice him.
I think this is the best point to say that if this review begins to sound strange after this, its because I don’t want to give spoilers away.
Jason is first accused of sexual harassment, before another woman comes forward and claims he raped her. A harassment case is far easier to make disappear (read: pay off) than a rape case, or for that matter, a murder case — which is what Jason is arrested for. It’s also easier to keep Angela’s secret kept safe if the case doesn’t grow more public.
Jason knows her secret, which makes his betrayal of their marriage — an affair with the alleged rape victim — worse.
Angela begins the book as a victim, I think, would be the best way to describe it. She is afraid for herself and Spencer, should the media come looking into her past, and soon enough, those secrets are revealed in the book, so readers understand where she is coming from.
Under the veneer of a respectability that Jason worked so hard to build is someone who would do anything to survive — including revealing things about Angela, he’d promised never to. He wants to cast himself as a victim of her hang-ups, so naturally he’d have an affair to get the sex he’s been lacking at home — it’s crass, but we all know the stories that cast men as the good guys doing bad things because of their wives — our newspapers give that to us often enough with their reports.
As her life begins to unravel, readers begin to understand Jason’s life as well, and the case that grows ever more complicated when readers understand just what is at stake for him.
And then, Burke makes you understand what The Wife is really about.
What it means to have to — to want to — do anything to survive.
Oo this sounds fantastic! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I better add it to my wishlist! 😀
I did not see that ending coming, Erin. To be fair I usually don’t but this one left me thoroughly gobsmacked.
This sounds kinda twisted – so many secrets! I don’t know how I’d react if my husband was arrested for murder, but the fact that Jason turns on Angela is crazy! I’m very intrigued!
He frames it as the most normal thing in the world to do as well. It is twisted, and they both have their secrets, which is why the ending had my jaw hitting the floor.
Hmmm, I am intrigued. I love these juicy secret books!
This one is a good one too!
Oooh, the “veneer of respectability” — aren’t we all more aware of that than we were a few years ago!
I’ll say!
YES, the fact that you gave this 4/5 stars has me all giddy. It’s next on my TBR so I shall be starting it today 😀 it looks so exciting
I hope you enjoy it, Lily. The ending really did blow me away for how restrained the writing was , and then you realise what you just read and I went WHAT? So good!
Well, colour me intrigued! This psychological thriller surely sounds like a very interesting read, and you know I love when there are secrets at play, hehe 😉
Such delicious ones here Silvia. And I liked how the author revealed them within the context of the book bc it packed such a punch.
This sounds amazing and I get the feeling that I’m not going to like Jason very much, lol. Great review!
I went through such a rollercoaster with Jason, but man, Suzanne, that ending!
Oh wow, this sounds so incredibly multilayered and complex, secrets on top of secrets. Why do men use the excuse of a sexless marriage as an excuse to cheat themselves. I’m.intrigued to find out if that’s why he wanted to marry and quickly, what indiscretions was he wanted to cover up. Brilliant review Verushka darling, really enjoyed it <3 <3
Thank you, Kelly! This one is one of those where the author takes her time revealing who Jason and Angela are, and always with this sheen of normality over them. Such a good read!
This sounds like a great book! I will have to put this on my TBR list! Great review.
TY! I actually didn’t know what to expect going in, but it ended up impressing me so much!
You are such a tease and now I want more. Adding to my wishlist!
Oh wow, this sounds all kinds of twisty, I love it! I will have to keep an eye out for it for sure!
I dislike stories about cheating BUT I love psychological thriller about marriage in trouble [yup I know most of them are about cheating lol] this sounds so layered and complex!