Judy Collins's Reviews > The Second Wife

Miranda Rijks' THE SECOND WIFE, now in audiobook format, is a twisty, gripping multi-layered psychological whodunit mystery brimming with dark surprises.

One man. Two wives. Grown children. Caretakers. Staff. And Mia.

Robin Featherstone, a renowned composer. He is a wealthy accomplished older man. He has a first wife and grown children, which are very selfish, privileged, and manipulative.

His current second wife, Tamsin, is beautiful and young. There was no prenup, and the entire family thinks of her as a gold digger. She is pretty self-centered and likes her lifestyle.

Then there is Mia. I liked Mia. She had a rough life and spent time in prison for something she did not do, and she loves her father. She is a violinist and has a career, but she took this job that fell in her lap cleaning for the famous Robin.

The two bond over music.

When Robin has a stroke, he is not the same person. Then there is an accident when Robin takes a deadly fall. Was it an accident, or was he pushed? Was it murder?

Who has the motive to murder Robin? Who stands to gain the most?

The plot thickens when we learn that Robin wrote a new will two days before his death.

The will is read. Everyone is shocked. There are multiple suspects, and the investigations will have to dive deep to uncover the secrets of the past.

Tamsin (current second wife), Claudia (first wife), daughter (Brooke), and his son (David). There is a letter from Robin that spells out he thinks someone is trying to murder him. There is also Marek, Pavla, and Thomas.

Let the murder mystery begin! Mia and Tamsin must join forces to save one another and uncover the lies and deceit of the past.

Rijks adds cunning twists and sharp narration that take you on an unexpected whodunit journey and will leave you with a gasp. The added clever twist at the end you will not expect!

Love. Jealousy. Greed. Deception. Revenge!

After reading, the title should have remained The Inheritance, which would be more fitting (her working title) versus The Second Wife. This novel was more of a whodunit mystery versus a psychological thriller. The title and the image on the front cover were a little misleading. Even though striking, there were two protagonists, Tamsin and Mia. Mia was the main focus, so it was not a story about only the second wife.

However, I do enjoy this author's writing and her books, even though this was not my favorite. I purchased the e-book and the audiobook narrated by Penelope Rawlins, Jodie Harris, and Peter Noble for an engaging performance.

For fans of authors Gilly Macmillan and Shari Lapena.

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My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 15, 2022
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books