A super rich 70-yo with a colicky temperament. A greedy sister. A brother former playboy and ex-addict, with secret illegitime children. A revengeful second wife. A resentful daughter who was never allowed to enjoy the right of having a father. Also, a missing pair of black Loboutin that may be used as a weapon of crime. All those people and circumstances are brought together on a fancy cruise from the shores of Sydney as far as Nouvelle Calédonie. And then, there are the crimes: first the rich Irving, shortly after his daughter. So many people who wants them dead, but who is the culprit though?
The Second Wife by Australian bestseller crime author and journalist Ali Lowe starts slowly, but with a beginning that predicts a lot of suspense. And as a cruise is the perfect ´locked room´-like environment for crime(s), the author is hard at work to prove it.
The grains of doubt regarding the actions of the characters and their truth intentions are spread through the various perspectives shared by the characters themselves, but also grandly introduced in the fragments of a dedicated podcast whose transcripts are based on interviews with the main characters involved.
Nothing though prepared me for the truth about the main architect of the plan, and as I am writing this review I cannot stop from raising my eyebrows in surprise. Because, to be honest, I didn´t expect it.
The throughout description of the cruise organisation and the everyday details, including the social stratifications, are crucial in understanding the plot. Also, the emotional status of the characters is equally relevant for understanding their motivation and further acts. My favorite so far is Celia´s, the ambitious wife of the ex-addict and playboy Ridley, unique in its own way: ´That´s how angry she was - so angry the moon annoyed her´.
The Second Wife is a book to read when you can dedicate few hours in a row to it. I started it thinking that it will be my companion for a week at least, but ended up spending most of my time deeply focused in the investigation. Was really worth it, especially because I equally had the chance to discover a new good Australian writer.
The book will be published next June by Hodder and Stoughton.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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