The Wife, The Maid, and the Mistress - Book Review

In 1930, New York Supreme Court Justice Joseph Crater left a theater and disappeared.

In The Wife, The Maid and the Mistress, Ariel Lawhorn creates a possible answer to the mystery by telling the story through the eyes of Crater's wife, lover and maid. In the dark world of corrupt politics, flashy showgirls, and dirty mobsters the novel is a thrilling and wild tale of crime and passion.

I could not put this book down. Once I started reading it, I stopped only to sleep (because, you know, sleep). Fortunately for my kids who don't especially enjoy corn dogs, I finished the novel in less than 24 hours.  As soon as I stepped on this roller coaster ride, I had no desire to get off.

Once again, the setting becomes key in this thriller. Within the novel's pages, the reader is immediately conveyed to the world of speakeasies, theaters of dancing girls and mobsters who have politicians and lawmen in their pockets. Though flashy and outrageous, I pictured the novel as a glamorous black and white film. If only they could resurrect the fashionable actresses of the Hollywood's Golden Age to play the roles.

Lawhorn keeps a frantic and intense pace throughout the novel, keeping the reader slightly off edge and startled. For the type of story, her style works perfectly. Full of twists and an unexpected shock at the end, as soon as I turned the final page I wanted to go back to the beginning and start again.


The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhorn is published by Doubleday and hit the shelves on January 28, 2014. It is the SheReads book of the month. You can read what other reviewers thought of it *here*.


**I received a complimentary copy of The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**