FDL Reads: The Wife Upstairs
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
Genre: Mystery
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this book about? Jane, a young woman in her 20’s, has recently relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, and is working as a dogwalker for the wealthy residents of a gated community known as Thornfield Estates. She also supplements her income by “finding” and pawning just a few valuable trinkets abandoned carelessly by the residents. One day while walking the dogs, she is nearly run down by one of the residents, recently widowed Eddie Rochester, as he pulls his car out of his driveway. Eddie’s wife, Bea, died tragically in a boating accident along with her best friend, Blanche, who also lived in the neighborhood. Jane and Eddie quickly begin a relationship and fall in love, but Bea’s influence and death looms large between the two who each have suspicious pasts. Their lives, the circumstances of the boating accident, and Jane’s efforts to be accepted by the residents of Thornfield Estates as one of them make this reimaging of the classic Jane Eyre an interesting tale.
My Review: I enjoyed this book and Hawkins’ way of slowly revealing key elements of each character’s past life. The story is told by the characters themselves, giving the reader different perspectives on some of the key events. Hawkins is a good storyteller and knows how to create suspense for her readers. This is her first adult novel, having previously written primarily for young adults. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a gothic story that will keep them guessing even at the very end.
Three words that describe this book: Intriguing, Gothic, Unresolved
Give this a try if you like: The Woman In the Window by A. J. Finn or books by B. A Paris.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
