Page 2 of 4
There are currently 22 member reviews
for The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives
-
Louise E. (Ocean View, DE)
absorbing story
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives was a very interesting take on solving a seriel killer crime spree. The wives of several murderers became friends and realized several new deaths were done by one person. So they decided to try and solve the mystery. Their thought process was fascinating and at the end I came to the same conclusion as they did.The mystery woman in this story was a mystery to me until the murderers' wives solved the case. There were twists and turns to keep me absorbed in the story.
-
Sherrie Y. (Aurora, CO)
Solid mystery set in the 60's
This novel was unexpected! Three friends in 1960's California bond over their shared past of each being married to serial killers. While each woman's story is threaded throughout the current timeline, we follow them as they work to catch a new serial killer threatening the women in their town and their own stability.
Beverly, Elsie, and Margot seemed hard to distinguish at first, but Arnott unwound each character and established them as their own individuals the further I read. There were some excellent passages in this novel, and the writing was propulsive. The mystery was solid, even if there were some far-fetched ideas that these three clung to, and I was hoping that they wouldn't turn out to be the actual resolution. What really happened in the last 15 of the book was very surprising, and I never imagined who the culprit ended up being.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to seeing what Arnott brings us next!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and BookBrowse for the advanced reader e-book.
-
Susan W. (Berkley, MI)
An entertaining read for the right reader
I enjoyed this book, but I would not say it was a favorite. I like books that have characters that I relate to on some level or at least am able to sympathize with. Perhaps I was hoping for more realism in the plot. There was no lack of action or colorful narrative, it was just not my type of book. I think this could be a good book club book.
-
Mary G. (Greensboro, GA)
No One Knows the Mind of a Serial Killer Like the Wife of One
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives offers a unique and very interesting perspective both on the impact to the lives of those close to serial killers and on how to catch them.
Beverley, Margot, and Elsie have formed a survivor group to help them deal with the guilt, trauma, and shame of having been married to mass murderers. When a couple of young women are killed in close succession, they believe there is a connection between the deaths and they decide to use their insights and experience to try to get justice for these unfortunate victims and try to prevent more deaths.
Beverley has been having a secret affair with the married detective who arrested he husband. Elsie works for a newspaper and has been desperately trying to move beyond her job as personal assistant to the editor to being an actual reporter. Margot has extensive connections due to her former life as a politician's wife. They use these connections to get inside information and slowly but surely zero in on the predator.
The book is set in California in the 1960s, which the author uses to her advantage. The extreme heat, the attitude towards women in that time, even letter writing as a primary means of communication play a role.
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives is very well done and reaches a surprising but satisfying conclusion.
-
Debra F. (Cudjoe Key, FL)
Secret Lives
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by:Elizabeth Arnott.
I really enjoy a look back at women of previous decades...damn 'we've come a long way baby'! Reading about the mores of the day, how women were treated, what they were able to achieve against the odds. These women all were wives of 'serial killers' (talk about against the odds). I enjoyed getting to know these women, although I had some questions unanswered. I still wonder how they all met. I found it a bit slow going & wish they had expanded on before they all met.
The book touched on important issues of the day, intertwined in each of the characters lives.
It was a good story!
Thanks to Bookbrowse for an ARC of this story!
-
Kevin L. (Salem, OR)
Messy, Painful and Powerful
This thriller isn't the typical police driven story. Instead, it follows three women whose husbands were all serial killers, quite a wild premise that becomes something far more thoughtful. The novel explores gender-based violence and the way society dismissed women's rights in the 1950s and 60s, weaving in themes of civil rights, race, class, and whose stories were deemed worthy of attention. It shows how economic privilege shaped everything from media coverage to the police's willingness to act, especially when victims were poor or marginalized.
The pacing can feel a bit jumpy, as if too many strong ideas compete for space, but the characters more than make up for it. Each woman's voice and response to trauma feels distinct and fully realised. By the end, I felt protective of all three. It's a messy, painful, powerful story that lingers long after you finish.
-
Randi H. (Bronx, NY)
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives
I really liked this book. It's fast-moving but still has emotional depth, and the stories of these women stuck with me. The characters feel believable, and the mix of tension and heart kept me hooked. It actually reminded me a bit of Lessons in Chemistry -- not the storyline, but the way it focuses on women figuring out who they are in tough situations. This one's definitely darker, though. Overall, a really engaging, well-told read.
