Title: The Second Wife by Rebecca Fleet
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Suspense
Length:355 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
She’s part of the family now. For better–and for worse . . .
When Alex met Natalie she changed his life. After the tragic death of his first wife, which left him a single parent to teenage daughter Jade, he was desperate to leave the pain of his past behind.
But his newfound happiness is shattered when the family home is gutted by fire and his loyalties are unexpectedly tested. Jade insists she saw a man in the house on the night of the fire; Natalie denies any knowledge of such an intruder.
One of them must be lying, but Alex is faced with an impossible choice: to believe his wife or his daughter. As Natalie’s story unravels, Alex realizes that his wife has a past he had no idea about, a past that might yet catch up with her.
But this time, the past could be deadly…
Review:
The Second Wife by Rebecca Fleet is a riveting domestic mystery.
Advertising executive Alex Carmichael is stunned to discover his home engulfed in flames upon his return from an evening out. Terrified, he frantically searches the crowd for his fourteen year old daughter Jade. He does not find her but he does see his wife Natalie who assures him she tried to rescue her stepdaughter. Fortunately the firefighters soon locate Jade and she is transported to the hospital.
Alex’s relief soon turns to fear when Jade tells him she saw a man in the house not long before the fire started. Jade also says she has seen this same person around at various places and times. Natalie claims she did not see anyone, but Alex does not doubt what Jade has told him. Alex realizes he does not know much about his wife and when he begins looking for information, is he prepared for what he might find?
Despite Natalie answering some of his questions, Alex is a little suspicious that she has told him the complete truth. Unable to let it go, he continues digging into her past. He manages to piece together some of her history, and he relentlessly continues searching for the truth. Alex is fairly certain he has learned Natalie’s secrets, but does he finally know everything?
Weaving back and forth in time, The Second Wife is an engrossing mystery with a clever plot and interesting characters. Alex might make a few questionable decisions but there is no doubt he loves his daughter. With stunning twists, Rebecca Fleet brings this spellbinding domestic mystery to an unexpected conclusion. Highly recommend this brilliant mystery to fans of the genre.
