Title: Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: C+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
Marriage can be murder…
SOMETHING OLD
Marcie’s affair with Jason Maddox catapulted her into the world of the elite.
Old money, old ties, old secrets. Marcie may have married into this world—
but she’ll never be part of it.
SOMETHING NEW
Then Jason’s boss brings back a new wife from his trip to London.
Young, attractive, reckless—nobody can take their eyes off Keisha.
Including Marcie’s husband.
SOMETHING YOU CAN NEVER, EVER UNDO…
Some people would kill for the life Marcie has—what will she do to keep it?
Review:
Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough is an intriguing domestic mystery.
As wife number two, thirty-four year old Marcie Maddox is the youngest wife in her husband Jason’s circle of friends. Following the death of Jason’s boss William Radford’s beloved, sainted wife Eleanor, he returns from a trip abroad with a gorgeous, vivacious twenty-two year old new wife Keisha. Marcie feels immediately threatened by both Keisha’s beauty and youth. She is also furious by Jason’s obvious interest in Keisha as he flirts with her every time they meet. Her suspicions appear to be justified when he begins acting of character and receiving and sending middle of the night texts and phone calls. After an unexpected friendship springs up between them, Marcie soon attempts to distance herself from Keisha amid worries of losing her social status. When secrets are exposed and a murder attempt is made on one of the inner circle, will Marcie be able to hold on to everything she has fought so hard to obtain?
Marcie knows something is not quite right with Jason but she does little to find out what is troubling him. Instead, she focuses on decorating their new home and shopping to ease her growing boredom. Although Marcie does not particularly care for many of the wives she socializes with, she always does what is expected of her.
When Keisha saunters onto the scene, she immediately shakes up the staid group. A Londoner from humble beginnings, she definitely does not fit in with the wealthy, pampered husbands and wives. She is unfiltered and exuberant in public but in private, Keisha tries to placate William as he seethes over her missteps. Growing increasingly unhappy, Keisha’s behavior becomes more erratic as her demons refuse to be quieted.
Alternating between Keisha and Marcie’s perspectives, readers have a bird’s eye view into their thoughts and private lives. Marcie is already convinced Jason is cheating on her and when his ex-wife Jacquie returns to town, she is rattled. After her friendship with Keisha takes an unexpected turn, Marcie becomes more worried all of her secrets might be revealed. Keisha can barely hide her loathing of William and as his behavior becomes more unpredictable, she grows worried about her physical safety. Both women are in precarious positions as both of their lives spiral increasingly out of their control.
Dead to Her is an engaging mystery with an unusual premise. None of the characters are particularly likable although it is easy to feel a wee bit of sympathy for Keisha’s situation. The storyline is interesting but the pacing is incredibly slow until very late in the novel. Although parts of the plot are predictable, Sarah Pinborough saves a few shocking twists for the unanticipated, clever conclusion.
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