Title:The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 351 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
Two women are watching each other.
Phoebe Miller isn’t sure when the rusty car started showing up in the cul-de-sac she calls home, or why its driver would be spying on her. What could be interesting about an unhappy housewife who drowns her sorrows in ice cream and wine and barely leaves her house?
Only one knows why.
When a new family moves in across the street–the exuberant Vicki, who just might become the gossipy best friend Phoebe’s always wanted, and her handsome college-bound son, Jake, who offers companionship of a different variety–Phoebe finds her dull routine infused with the excitement she’s been missing. But with her head turned she’s no longer focused on the woman in the car. And she really should be…
An addictive domestic thriller for fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Couple Next Door, The Other Mrs. Miller serves up a delicious brew of dark secrets and stunning plot twists that will keep you captivated until the very last page.
Review:
The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson is a diabolically clever twist-filled mystery.
Phoebe Miller is wealthy and dissatisfied with her life. She rarely leaves home and she fills her days by sleeping late, drinking copious amounts of wine, and indulging her craving for ice cream. Her marriage to Wyatt has been in a downward spiral for quite some time. Rejecting his latest suggestion with brutal (and uncensored) honesty, Phoebe is certain a divorce is in her future. When new neighbors move in across the street, she enjoys brunches and shopping expeditions with her new friend, Vicki Napier. But it is Vicki’s son Jake who really adds excitement to Phoebe’s life since they are soon embroiled in a red-hot, passion-filled affair. Meanwhile, all of these activities are taking place under the watchful eye of a mysterious person who is spying on Phoebe.
Phoebe is still reeling from the negative publicity surrounding her wealthy father’s recent death. The two were never close so she is not exactly mourning him. She is stuck in a rut of her own making but she cannot seem to muster the energy to do drag herself out of her misery. Phoebe is not sure she wants to make an effort to be friends with Vicki, but her new neighbor gives her little choice. She also knows that sleeping with Jake is wrong but she just cannot resist the sexy young man. How will Phoebe resolve the quandary she finds herself in when the person watching her finally makes a move?
The Other Mrs. Miller is a fiendishly addictive mystery with a cast of disagreeable characters that are surprisingly sympathetic. Chapters from an unknown person’s perspective are quite intriguing and add suspense to the unfolding drama. About midway through the novel, an astonishing plot twist takes this brilliant story in a very unexpected direction. It is surprisingly easy for readers to suspend their disbelief as Allison Dickson brings this mesmerizing mystery to a wonderfully satisfying conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this innovative novel to fans of the genre.
