Title: The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length:288 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Meet the trophy wives of Presidio Terrace, San Francisco’s most exclusive—and most deadly—neighborhood in this shrewd, darkly compelling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of In Her Shadow.
Mystery writer Brooke Davies is the new wife on the block. Her tech-billionaire husband, Jack, twenty-two years her senior, whisked her to the Bay Area via private jet and purchased a modest mansion on the same day. He demands perfection, and before now, Brooke has had no problem playing the role of a doting housewife. But as she befriends other wives on the street and spends considerable time away from Jack, he worries if he doesn’t control Brooke’s every move, she will reveal the truth behind their “perfect” marriage.
Erin King, famed news anchor and chair of the community board, is no stranger to maintaining an image—though being married to a plastic surgeon helps. But the skyrocketing success of her career has worn her love life thin, and her professional ambitions have pushed Mason away. Quitting her job is a Hail Mary attempt at keeping him interested, to steer him away from finding a young trophy wife. But is it enough, and is Mason truly the man she thought he was?
Georgia St. Claire allegedly cashed in on the deaths of her first two husbands, earning her the nickname “Black Widow”—and the stares and whispers of her curious neighbors. Rumored to have murdered both men for their fortunes, she claims to have found true love in her third marriage, yet her mysterious, captivating allure keeps everyone guessing. Then a tragic accident forces the residents of Presidio Terrace to ask: Has Georgia struck again? And what is she really capable of doing to protect her secrets?
Review:
The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller is an entertaining mystery that takes place in an exclusive neighborhood for wealthy San Franciscans.
Brooke and Jack Davies have recently moved to San Francisco so he can be closer to the tech industry. Brooke is a mystery writer who becomes fast friends with neighbors, news anchor Erin King and soon to be married Georgia St. Claire. Brooke’s latest book is due soon and she is struggling with writer’s block. Erin takes one look at Brooke’s life and decides that maybe her husband Mason would appreciate it if she were home more often. Georgia is living under a cloud of suspicion because her first two husbands met rather untimely deaths. These three very disparate women become fast friends who band together to support and help one of their own during a time of crisis.
With Georgia and her fiancé Robert Donnelly’s wedding just days away, she is surprisingly calm and in control. Their last party before their wedding is a mutual bachelor/bachelorette soirée on Robert’s yacht. Erin and Brooke practically have to drag their husbands to the party and the men are eager to escape when the evening sail is finished. Georgia invites Brooke and Erin to stay overnight on the yacht with her and Robert and both women happily accept. By the next morning, Georgia is frantic with worry about Robert and the next few days are filled with tension and concern. By Georgia’s wedding day, shocking secrets are revealed as they anxiously wait for the investigation to yield results.
The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives is an enjoyable mystery with unexpected twists and turns. Although the chapters alternate between the three women’s points of view, Brooke is the best developed character. She and Georgia are easier to like than Erin who is a little shallow. The storyline is engaging and well-written. Kristin Miller brings this clever mystery to a surprising conclusion.
