Book Review: The Wife Before by 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑡𝑜𝑜
There’s something undeniably captivating about a story steeped in intrigue and moral ambiguity, and that’s precisely what drew me to The Wife Before by 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑡𝑜𝑜. The premise of a woman falling for a man with a shadowy past—specifically, one tainted by murder accusations—immediately piqued my curiosity. However, as I delved deeper into Samira Wilder’s world, I found myself treading through a tangled web of motivations that left me questioning my own engagement with the characters.
At its core, The Wife Before presents a tantalizing thriller wrapped in themes of trust, deception, and the search for truth. Samira, our protagonist, chooses to ignore the warnings from her brother and best friend regarding Roland, the charming but enigmatic pro golfer accused of murdering his first wife. This decision sets up a series of secrets and miscommunications that keep the pages turning, even as I found myself increasingly frustrated by Samira’s self-serving nature.
The dual narratives—one from Samira and the other from Roland’s late wife Melanie through her journals—create an interesting dynamic. Yet, while this could have enriched the story, it often feels disjointed. Melanie’s journal entries read like polished prose rather than the intimate musings of a person reflecting on her life, making them lose authenticity. I found myself yearning for the rawness that true journaling can bring, especially since these entries were indeed pivotal to uncovering the storyline.
One of the standout features was the book’s prologue, which offered a chilling glimpse into the tone of the story. Unfortunately, the script never returns to fully explore these eerie threads that are left dangling, leaving me hungry for closure. It’s as if the most compelling elements are presented only to evaporate, leaving a sense of disconnection.
As for the characters, they oscillate between annoying and perplexing. I struggled to sympathize with Samira, who at twenty-eight seems blissfully trapped in a cycle of dependency. Roland’s character fluctuates in predictability, and though Melanie emerges as a more layered figure, it’s hard to fully trust her given the structure of her narration. The novel’s reliance on well-worn tropes, such as the unreliable narrator and the "dead wife’s journals," feels a tad clichéd. While these can be compelling in the right hands, their execution here leaves me wanting.
The audiobook experience slightly salvaged my reading, thanks in part to the narration by Tracey Conyer Lee, whose voices initially distinguished Samira and Melanie. However, as the story progressed, the voices blurred into one, which added to my confusion. It’s an interesting choice to have such a slow pacing; at 1.75x speed, I still found myself feeling held back.
Ultimately, The Wife Before is a classic "one-time read" that might appeal to fans of slow-burn domestic thrillers. If you’re someone who enjoys unraveling mysteries and don’t mind flawed characters, you might find something to appreciate here. Unfortunately, it lacked the memorable twists and depth that I crave in a thriller, leaving me once again searching for my next literary delight.
So, if anyone has a five-star recommendation for me, please send it my way—I’m ready for something that truly sparkles!
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