Title: The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love.
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing.
Twisted and deliciously chilling, The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage – and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.
Read between the lies.
Review:
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen is a twist-filled, suspenseful read.
In the days leading up to her marriage to Richard Thompson, twenty-eight year old Nellie is excited but a little sad about leaving behind the jobs and friends she loves. In sharp contrast, Richard’s ex-wife, Vanessa, is still devastated over the end of her marriage. In fact, Vanessa is living with her beloved Aunt Charlotte and barely hanging onto her sales associate job at an upscale department store due to the fact she can barely crawl out of bed most days. In between drinking to dull her pain, she is stalking her ex-husband’s fiancée while at the same trying to figure out when things began going wrong in her now defunct marriage. How far will Vanessa go to prevent her ex-husband from marrying again?
The Wife Between Us is written in three parts with part one being the longest and slowest paced. This part of the story provides interesting insight Vanessa’s current mental state. At the same time, this portion of the novel details Nellie’s upcoming marriage to Richard along with some intriguing information about Nellie and her past. Part one concludes with a jaw-dropping revelation that will definitely leave readers reeling.
The story really picks up steam during Part Two which focuses on Vanessa’s concerted effort to help Richard’s fiancée see the truth about the man she is about to marry. Revelations about Vanessa, Richard and their marriage are positively stunning and show exactly why Vanessa is so determined to stop the upcoming wedding. Richard goes to pretty extreme lengths to keep the women apart but Vanessa is undeterred as she goes to extreme (and dangerous) lengths to stop their wedding.
Part three is even more action-packed as Vanessa puts her plans into motion. The complete truth about her marriage to Richard is also fully revealed and these details are shocking. This portion of the story is also rather gratifying since Vanessa begins to get herself and her life together.
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen is a unique and multi-layered mystery. Vanessa is not always the most reliable of narrators and she is sometimes not exactly easy to like or feel much sympathy towards. Nellie is almost shockingly naive as she fails to grasp the implications of some of things about her older, successful husband to be. Aunt Charlotte is a delightful character who is unfailingly supportive of her niece. Expect the unexpected in this innovative domestic mystery!
