Wednesday, August 21, 2013

THE SILENT WIFE (A. S. A. HARRISON)

 
 
Story Description:
 
Penguin|June 25, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-14-318704-2
 
Jodi and Todd are at a bad place in their marriage.  Both are at the mercy of their unrelenting wants and needs, and both are unaware that the path they are on is careening toward murder.  Much is at stake, including the affluent life they lead in their beautiful waterfront condo in Chicago, as she, the killer, and he, the victim, rush haplessly toward the main event, oblivious of the destiny they are jointly creating, caught in the thrall of disaster unfolding. 
 
Chapter by chapter, the narrative evolves from their alternating perspectives.  He is a committed cheater.  She lives and breathes denial.  He exists in dual worlds.  She likes to settle scores.  He decides to play for keeps.  She has nothing left to lose.  The alternating voices pitch the reader back and forth between protagonists in conflict who are fighting for self-preservation, both of them making deeply consequential mistakes, behaving in ever more foolhardy ways, losing at the games they’re playing. 
 
The Silent Wife is a finely wrought emotionally charged psychological thriller about a marriage in the throes of dissolution, a couple headed for catastrophe, concessions that can’t be made, and promises that won’t be kept.  Expertly plotted and reminiscent of Gone Girl and These Things Hidden, The Silent Wife ensnares the reader from page one and doesn’t let go. 
 
My Review:
 
Jodi and Todd, never legally married have been together for about twenty years.  Jodi just never felt a piece of signed paper to prove their togetherness as a couple was really warranted.  short hours.  She makes just enough money to purchase little extras. 
 
They live in a beautiful waterfront condo overlooking the water in Chicago and have no children.  Their beloved dog, Freud is their happy baby. 
 
Lately their relationship has been somewhat strained, and little do they both realize at this moment is that Jodi will soon become the killer and Todd the deceased. 
 
Todd is a cheater taking up with his best friend’s twenty-one-year-old daughter, Natasha and gets her pregnant.  Jodi “lives and breathes denial.”  Todd rents an apartment and moves himself and his pregnant girlfriend in and they start making plans for their wedding which will take place before Natasha begins to show. 
 
Oddly enough, Todd still loves Jodi and I firmly believe that given the chance to hop off the merry-go-round he has found himself on, would go back to his quiet, settled life with Jodi.  Jodi, however, “likes to settle scores” and doesn’t quite see things in the same light. 
 
Told in alternating voices, The Silent Wife is a story about a marriage in the throes of dissolution, “ a couple headed for catastrophe.” 
 
A.D.A. Harrison’s writing was strong and varied, pulling you along deeper and deeper into the psychological interplay that was taking place in this relationship.  Jodi was a formidable foe in this relationship, appearing on the outside as a strong and well put together woman when really on the inside she was quietly planning the rest of her life. 
 
I thoroughly loved the pace of this book.  Although you wanted to know what was coming next, at the same time you didn’t want anything rushed.  You need to process the little nuances between the lines.  A very good book and an absolute delight to read. 
 


1 comment:

  1. I just bought this one. I'll be putting it up next in the queue.

    ReplyDelete