I am delighted to say that it's Jaffareadstoo's turn to host today's stop on the
My Husband's Wife Blog Tour
Penguin August 2016 |
First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes murder
When lawyer Lily marries Ed, she's determined to make a fresh start. To leave the secrets of her past behind. But when she takes on a new case, she starts to find herself strangely drawn to her client. A man who's been convicted of murder. A man she will soon be willing to risk everything for.
But is he really innocent?
And who is she to judge?
Here are my thoughts about My Husband's Wife...
The story opens in 2000, when Lily
and Ed are newly married, and, even as they begin their new life together, tensions between them are running high. When Lily's job as a lawyer brings her into prison contact with
Joe Thomas, a convicted killer, an undercurrent of menace very quickly starts to invade
Lily’s personal life, much to the detriment of her relationship with Ed. Running alongside Lily and Ed’s story is that of their
neighbour, Carla, a young Italian girl who lives with her mother and whose troubled
approach to life is frighteningly realistic. On the surface, these four people have
nothing in common, and yet, flitting back and forth in time, we start to learn
just what disturbing tendrils snake between them.
The story is really well
organised and the plot efficiently controlled. It’s, maybe, a little bit slow at
the start but I think that works well as it gives the reader time to get to
know the characters and to start to bond with them emotionally. There is much
to take in, not just in the cloistered and frankly unnerving atmosphere that exists
between Lily and Joe Thomas, but also in the multi-layered mélange of Lily and
Ed’s married life which forms the core of the novel, and which is dissected in
fine detail, and also of their troubled relationship with Carla. I found Carla’s character quite disturbing, and I think that the
author has done a really good job of making her so sly and secretive so that you are
lulled into a false sense of security. There is no doubt that tensions run high
throughout the story, the twists and turns in the plot are surprising and unexpected,
so much so that I really didn’t see where the book was headed, and I thought that the final dénouement
when it came was entirely appropriate and nicely concluded the story.
Overall, My Husband’s Wife is a
really good debut from an author who knows how to control a complicated narrative,
who can crank the tension up to high without losing any focus, and whose
assured storytelling will keep a reader entertained from start to finish.
Best Read with….A bowl of Carla’s mother’s Lasagne and a glass
or two of deep red Chianti ...
About the Author
Jane Corry is a writer and journalist, and teaches creative writing all over the world. Recently she spent three years working as the writer-in-residence at a high-security prison for men.
In her own words: 'I had always thought prisons were terrifying places for people who had done terrible things. But after my first marriage ended, I found myself working in one, and discovered a world I could not have imagined without actually being there. A world in which no one was quite who they seemed. A world that I found strangely addictive - so much so that it wormed its way into this book.'
Twitter@JaneCoryAuthor
Here's your chance to win copy of My Husband's Wife in this fabulous giveaway
(UK only)
** Please note that this is an Uncorrected Advanced Proof Copy**
by kind permission of the publishers.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by kind permission of the publishers.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Do visit the other stops on the blog tour which runs until the 5th June 2016
My thanks to Annie and Katy at Penguin Random House UK for their invitation to be part of this tour and for the generous giveaway.
~***~
This sounds fascinating - another one for the TBR!
ReplyDeleteHi Christine. It is a fascinating story. Best of luck in the giveaway :)
DeleteThis one is on my wish list. Great review Jo x
ReplyDelete(Emma @ damppebbles)
Hi Emma - thanks for commenting - best of luck in the giveaway :)
DeleteHeard a lot about this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for running giveawat
You're welcome Derek - good luck.
DeleteYes please! I'd love to read this.:)
ReplyDeleteGood Luck Fleur !!
DeleteWanting to read this..
ReplyDeleteGood Luck Grass Monster :)
Deletesounds a great book!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dawn !
DeleteSounds like a gripping read :)
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl. Good luck:)
Delete