Sophie has had a bumpy few months so is excited to get an invitation to stay with her old friend Caroline who she hasn’t seen in over 20 years. Once she arrives, she starts to feel uneasy about the subdued behaviour of Caroline’s daughter Lucy and wonders what caused such sadness.
It isn’t obvious until the last third of the book why it is called The First Wife but I won’t give away any spoilers! Suffice it to say that Sophie needs to work out clues, using Agatha Christie as an inspiration.
We see Sophie in the present day and Caroline in the past. This dual viewpoint narrative allows us to trace the tension in Caroline’s marriage that Sophie is now picking up on in the present day. Both female lead characters are warm and realistic, although Caroline in the present is more stressed due to her new business and worry about her daughter and husband.
The plot develops gradually to show the uncertainty that Sophie feels in an unfamiliar place with strangers whilst trying to win the affection of troubled Lucy. The mystery is sustained until the final chapter and, although I was slightly incredulous about the outcome, it was entertaining to read.
Author Jill Childs has a beautiful way of writing and the scenery really comes to life. This does make the chapters quite long and wordy, slowing down the action but evoking the landscape to represent the turbulence of the plot.
Overall, I thought The First Wife was an enjoyable and quick read.
Take a look at my review of Invisible Girl also by Jill Childs.
Book Description:
I moved closer to the little girl, afraid that our voices would be caught by the monitor.
‘What happened to you, Lucy? Can you tell me?’
When Sophie’s life falls apart, she accepts an invitation from a childhood friend, Caroline, to visit her family’s beautiful beach house, situated at the mouth of an isolated cove, miles from the nearest town. The silence is broken only by the rhythmic crash of the waves against the jagged black rocks below.
But when Sophie arrives, she finds her friend much changed. Caroline – who used to be so warm and confident – is secretive and on-edge, spending long, unexplained hours away from her family. And then there’s Caroline’s little daughter Lucy – who stopped speaking soon after they moved in. Caroline assures Sophie that it’s only a phase, but Sophie thinks Lucy looks a little uncared for, a little afraid…
Then one night Sophie is woken by a scream and runs to find Lucy, out of bed and at the attic window, staring in terror at the view below. When Sophie goes to look, her blood runs cold…
What secrets hide behind closed doors in this isolated house by the sea? A compelling domestic drama from the USA Today bestselling author of Gracie’s Secret. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and The Couple Next Door.
Author Bio:
Jill always loved writing – real and imaginary – and spent thirty years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She’s now made her home in south-west London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does. Although she’s covered everything from earthquakes and floods, wars and riots, she’s decided some of the most extraordinary stories are right here at home – in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets just like yours.
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Last year, Olivia found her husband Dane’s body and became the key suspect in the police investigation. Then another man confessed and she was able to begin rebuilding her life, carefully negotiating a relationship with her son Jake, ex husband Frank and his new wife Julie.
Now the confession has been retracted and the police are harassing her again so she teams up with crime blogger Brock to complete their own investigation but is she putting herself in danger or trying to deflect her own guilt…?
Olivia’s character is so interesting, flawed, vulnerable but also passionate and determined. I honestly had no idea whether she would be revealed as Dane’s murderer. There were revelations even in the epilogue!
I loved the chronological dual timelines: it worked really well to show the past and the present day. We gradually see the picture of Olivia’s marriages emerge from the past which obviously have such a huge impact on her life in the present day.
The themes of truth and love radiate through this book. Mistakes happen, people are selfish. But the overwhelming tone of this book is that we can better ourselves and look for happiness. Olivia wasn’t happy in either of her marriages and took steps to change that. Lies caused trouble for so many of the characters but Olivia never loses her focus on her son’s happiness.
Some Days Are Dark also has an important message about drug addiction. Olivia becomes addicted to pain pills and soon relies on them to get through every day. She chooses the wrong path, getting the pills illegally rather than seeking help and being honest with her husband. Again lies and betrayal in stark contrast to love and truth that Olivia wants.
This book held my attention to the very end. Miranda Smith’s characters are so human and realistic, whilst the plot was intriguing.
Book Description:
When you have nothing to lose, how far will you go to save yourself?
Everyone in Whitaker was sure Olivia Miller shot her husband, until Marcus Rowe confessed. But a month before the trial, Marcus has been proved innocent—putting Olivia back in the frame.
Olivia is the first to admit she isn’t perfect. She’s made a lot of mistakes in her life, the worst of which was marrying Dane Miller. She fell for his kind eyes, his lack of judgement—she thought she could be free with him. That was before the chaotic parties, the dangerous friends, the lies… But one bad choice shouldn’t mean a life sentence. Now her friends are turning away from her, gossiping about her wherever she goes, wondering when she’ll be arrested this time.
Olivia isn’t going to run from the stares, from the whispers, from the doubts. She won’t leave her beloved son behind, or give her ex-husband Frank and his new wife any excuse to stop her seeing him. And if the police and the world think she’s guilty, there’s only one thing she can do—prove her innocence herself.
But if Marcus didn’t murder her husband, then the real killer is still out there.
And they’re not going to want Olivia stirring up the past…
An absolutely gripping, heart-pounding suspense novel about bad choices and second chances. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gray.
Author Bio:
Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.
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Kane and Alton’s latest case sees them teaming up with FBI agents to investigate a mass murderer with a multiple personality disorder. The case has them confused: some murders are quick like professional hits, others sadistic and designed to prolong the torment before death occurs. What is the significance of the crow feather left at the scene…?
The action is fast paced and there is plenty of anticipation and tension as the main characters are in danger. The body count is high: the forensic detail is unpleasant but not gratuitous. It is presented factually rather than to shock and fits well with the clinical nature of the medical examiner Wolfe.
As with D.K. Hood’s other books, we see the viewpoint of the murderer in Her Broken Wings in order to gain an insight into his actions. I enjoyed the psychological detail about the murderer’s split personality but felt that it could have been expanded a little and the history of the character explored to provide further depth to his motivation, however this did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Alton’s relationship with Kane doesn’t seem to have progressed much but they are obviously secure and comfortable with each other. Their personal and professional relationships merge seamlessly.
Once again, another excellent thriller from the wonderful D.K. Hood.
All of this series work perfectly well as stand alone novels but I personally enjoy seeing the development of the characters and their relationships. (Take a look at my reviews of books 4, 5, 6 and 7 (The Crying Season, Where Angels Fear, Whisper in the NIght, Break the Silence.)
DK HOOD Media Kit:
Title: HER BROKEN WINGS
Author: DK Hood
PUBLICATION DAY: 09/03/2020
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Description:
The sound that wakes her from sleep is unmistakable—someone is in their house. She listens as heavy footsteps start up the stairs, and as the bedroom door is flung open, she doesn’t even have time to scream…
Following a frantic emergency call in the middle of the night, Detective Jenna Alton arrives at a secluded family home to find the body of Lucas Robinson lying in a pool of his own blood in his bed. His wife Carol, shivering in shock, has just watched an intruder shoot her husband in cold blood.
As Jenna investigates the murder, she soon discovers that Lucas was having an affair. And when his mistress is also found strangled to death in the center of the small town, Jenna is convinced that the murderer is living amongst them.
When the killer escalates with a mass murder at a remote ranch on the outskirts of Black Rock Falls, Jenna knows for sure that she’s dealing with a murderer more twisted than any other she’s faced before.
As the town begins to fill with revelers for the annual Halloween festival, Jenna has to work fast to stop any more lives being taken. But as the killer always seems to be one step ahead of the investigation, has she finally met a murderer who can outsmart her?
Fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Abbott will love this compelling and nail-biting crime thriller from bestselling author, D.K. Hood.
**Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**
Author Bio:
I’ve always had a wicked sense of humour and was the kid who told the ghost stories around the campfire. I am lucky to have family all over the world and have spent many vacations in places from Paris France to Montana USA and Australia. I use the wonderful memories from these visits to enhance my stories.
My interest in the development of forensic science to solve crime goes back many years. I enjoy writing crime, mystery and thrillers. With many stories, waiting for me to write I’ll look forward to sharing many spine-tingling stories with you.
D.K. Hood is an active member of International Thriller Writers.
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