About the Book:
A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.
Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.
But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.
Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?
With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?
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My Review:
Wow! Creative and entertaining, a wonderful domestic thriller.
This modern twist on ‘Jane Eyre’ was a thoroughly enjoyable story. Most of the characters are untrustworthy and secretive and deliciously evil. No one is to be trusted! The multiple points of view, brief chapters and fast pace held my attention and kept me on my toes until the very end.
Even though this book takes place in Alabama, there is still a creepy, Gothic-like feel to it. The plot twist comes relatively early in the book but still kept me wondering how the story would play out with Jane and her new boyfriend, Eddie, whose perfect wife Bea recently died in a tragic boating accident.
All of Jane and Eddie’s Southern neighbors are perfectly unlikeable and gossipy and add just the right amount of spice to the story. The plot takes a wild turn at the end but I had such fun listening to this wonderful audiobook that I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. As usual, Lauren Fortgang in particular did a wonderful job narrating.
I don’t want to say anything more about the plot others than it was great fun listening to the author’s twist on some very familiar Jane Eyre connections. ‘The Wife Upstairs’ is a wonderfully creepy modern thriller that I highly recommend!
(Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Libro.fm for providing an advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.)
