Book Review: The Wife and the Widow by Christian White – By Nimandra Gunasekera
Source: Queensland Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – April 2023
“The Wife and the Widow” by Australian author Christian White is a gripping psychological thriller.
The story follows two women, Abby and Kate, who are both connected to an island where a murder has taken place.
Kate’s husband, John, whom she believes to be away at a work conference in London has in fact gone missing on the remote island of Belport off the coast of Melbourne, where the family has a summer holiday home. In truth, Dr. John Keddie has not been to work at the Centre for Palliative Care in three months. So where was he going? How was he spending his days? Who was he with?
Kate is desperate to find out what happened to John.
However, upon arriving on Belport, Kate discovers that her husband’s past is shrouded in secrets. Abby is a local resident of Belport and a mother of two teenagers.
Abby’s husband Ray is behaving strangely, and Abby can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with the body that has been discovered on the island.
After all, while rare, Abby has witnessed Ray’s violent streak. The local Cop investigating the death is a friend, so Abby must keep a lid on the alarming discoveries she’s made at home.
As the investigation unfolds, both women are forced to confront dark secrets from their past and present as well as the secrets and lies of the island’s inhabitants.
The narration is written in a unique dual perspective, alternating between Kate and Abby’s viewpoints. The characters are well developed and complex, with each one hiding their own secrets and motivations.
White’s writing is masterful, creating a sense of unease and tension that permeates the entire novel. The island’s isolation and eerie winter gloom adds to the suspense.
The book explores themes of guilt, grief, shame and fear and the secrets we keep from those we love and the unspeakable things we are willing to do for those we hold dear.
“The Wife and the Widow” is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. It’s a gripping, well-written, and expertly crafted novel that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Nimandra Gunasekera
Nimandra works in the oil and gas industry, enjoys reading and
dabbling in a bit of writing
