Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are not your average housewives. They are all wives of convicted killers. During the sun-drenched summer of 1966, the three women form an unlikely friendship after the discoveries of their husbands’ brutal crimes. With their exes dead or behind bars, the women attempt to forge new futures for themselves.
Headstrong Beverley compulsively tries to maintain control of everything around her, all while raising two children. Bookish Elsie fights day in and day out for the chance to make a name for herself in the newsroom, working among men who sneer at her career goals. Glamorous Margot refuses to take anything seriously and devotes all her energy to upholding the appearance that everything is fine—anything to quell the shame from her husband’s deceit.
They know people look at them and think only one thing: How could they not have known their husbands were committing horrific crimes? How much guilt is theirs to carry? And yet, when a string of killings hits the news, the three women—underestimated, overlooked, shrewd—decide to get to work. After all, who better to catch a killer than those who have shared their lives and homes with one?
This is a really unique book that blends historical fiction, serial killer mystery, women’s fiction, and domestic suspense. It also has some great tropes—wives of killers, found family, amateur sleuthing, and secrets with a villain hiding in plain sight. I loved the 1960s backdrop, as it really shows how backwards society was at the time—sexism and public perception shaping women’s lives are fully on display. To be a bit critical, if you’re going in expecting a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller, you may be disappointed—the story is very character-driven and quite slow-burn.
The story is told via multiple POVs, mostly following Beverley, Elsie, and Margot, with some interspersed chapters from another character that eventually becomes connected to the wives later on. The serial killer narrative is interesting, especially as the women come together and become determined to uncover to solve the mystery after police overlook key details. Their dynamic is a major highlight—it’s so obvious how they process shame differently which is very telling of how society and their backgrounds affects them—but they are able to work through their differences and form a strong bond!
The pacing is a bit uneven, and there are some slower, slightly repetitive sections in the middle. However, the last 30 percent really delivers with some thrilling confrontational scenes and unexpected turns—although the major twists are still predictable if you’ve read a lot of thrillers. The ending is a bit emotional and also satisfying to see how the women’s stories resolve.
Narrator Performance
The audiobook, narrated by powerhouse narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Karissa Vacker, is the recommended reading format, especially during the slower mid-sections. Maarleveld gives a dynamic performance for all three wives, using distinct voices/personalities and emotional intensity to bring them to life and immediately immersing you in the 1960s world.
Vacker delivers an emotionally intense performance as the missing person in the story, especially in the moments leading up to and during her captivity—you can hear the fear, anxiety, and desperation in her voice, making it easy to root for her survival.
Together, the narrators elevate the tension and drama in every scene, particularly in the climactic moments, making the story feel far more immersive than reading a physical copy!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook, narrated by powerhouse narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Karissa Vacker, is the recommended reading format, especially during the slower mid-sections. Maarleveld gives a dynamic performance for all three wives, using distinct voices/personalities and emotional intensity to bring them to life and immediately immersing you in the 1960s world.
Vacker delivers an emotionally intense performance as the missing person in the story, especially in the moments leading up to and during her captivity—you can hear the fear, anxiety, and desperation in her voice, making it easy to root for her survival.
Together, the narrators elevate the tension and drama in every scene, particularly in the climactic moments, making the story feel far more immersive than reading a physical copy!
The audiobook, narrated by powerhouse narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Karissa Vacker, is the recommended reading format, especially during the slower mid-sections. Maarleveld gives a dynamic performance for all three wives, using distinct voices/personalities and emotional intensity to bring them to life and immediately immersing you in the 1960s world.
Vacker delivers an emotionally intense performance as the missing person in the story, especially in the moments leading up to and during her captivity—you can hear the fear, anxiety, and desperation in her voice, making it easy to root for her survival.
Together, the narrators elevate the tension and drama in every scene, particularly in the climactic moments, making the story feel far more immersive than reading a physical copy!
