"The Silent Wife" by A.S.A. Harrison


From the outside, Jodi and Todd have the perfect marriage.  They both have great jobs, they live in a beautiful waterfront condo in Chicago, and they are equally supportive of each other.  But on the inside, it is a completely different story.  Todd is a serial philanderer and Jodi chooses to look the other way.  But things can't stay that way forever and they are headed down a path which at the end Todd lays dead and Jodi is the killer.

The Silent Wife is the debut novel by non-fiction writer A.S.A Harrison.  A gripping page-turner, it is the story of a marriage that is falling to pieces and is beyond repair.  A highly talked about novel, it has been called "this summer's Gone Girl."

I was hooked on this book from the beginning.  When you first pick up a book that tells you right on the back who committed the crime, you have to wonder how much there is going to be to hold your interest.  But this is more than a whodunit book, it's a relationship novel, a painful look at a troubled marriage.  It almost feels kind of naughty, like you're watching through the window at this couple in turmoil.

In alternating chapters, Harrison writes a well-rounded story told from both perspectives.  I have to say, I found Todd to be very maddening (the man-child is a character I will never appreciate), and worse was Jodi for her responses to his behaviours.   It's just a story but you can't help but think that in homes across the world, similar circumstances are playing out, and that's where this book becomes chilling. 

I have not read Gone Girl (yes, really) but if the comparisons between that book and this one are true, then I will definitely make a point to pick it up as I am now curious.  I'm amazed at how a book can come across as mundane at first glimpse but quickly draw you right in.  This is one of those books you can read in one sitting.

Weeks before this book was published, Ms. Harrison passed away from cancer.  This book is a wonderful offering and it's a shame to know that the next psychological thriller she was working on will not be finished.   While this book may not be for everyone, I recommend picking it up and finding out why it was one of the most talked about books this past summer.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Penguin Canada.  The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

Comments

  1. I thought this was creeeeepy good :D

    I was so sad about the author's death. It's a definite loss for the bookish world.

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  2. Definitely interested in reading this book!

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