Marie Langham is devastated when her friend since childhood, Nina, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Before Nina dies, she asks Marie to look out for her family—her two kids, and husband, Stuart. Of course Marie says yes, she would do anything for Nina.
After Nina's death, Marie begins to learn more about her friend, especially when Camilla, a mutual college friend, reappears. Once envious of Nina's life, Marie comes to realize that nothing is what it seems. She has to figure out what is true and who she can trust before the consequences of Nina's dark past destroy her.
The Last Wife has an interesting premise: best friends, one of whom has a dying wish for the other to watch over her husband and children. But what unfolds instead is a story of never knowing exactly who is telling the truth—it becomes a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for. And maybe to never join a book club.
While this book is being marketed as a thriller/mystery, it is more of a family drama with very little suspense. Although Hamilton is a great writer and starts off strong, she ultimately loses the plot—it simply overwhelms her. There is also a lot going on for the reader to keep track of.
Maria is the type of unreliable narrator that is prone to rambling and too much page time is dedicated to her musings. Unfortunately, as a whole, the cast of characters are lacking and I had trouble connecting with them.
That being said, I would definitely give Karen Hamilton another try.
KAREN HAMILTON spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy and worked as a flight attendant for many years. She is a recent graduate of the Faber Academy and the author of the international bestseller The Perfect Girlfriend.
Hamilton resides in Hampshire with her young family and husband.
Q&A with Karen Hamilton
What's the "story behind the story" with The Last Wife?
The idea for The Last Wife first came to me when I was setting up a book-group with some friends in my village. While I was researching book-group reads and recommendations online, I came across some stories which suggested that not all groups were friendly and welcoming. This really surprised me. While creating Marie’s character, I thought about how she would go about trying to join a well-established group. I also knew that I wanted the house that Marie so desperately covets to be in the woods because although they can be stunning, they can also set the scene for somewhere creepy and menacing.
So much of the story takes place in Ibiza, why did you choose that location? Have you ever been there?
It’s one of my favourite places to visit, even though I haven’t been as recently as I’d like. Although it has a reputation for being a party island, it has the most stunning beaches and scenery. I thought that this would be a likely place for Marie and her friends to visit at that time in their lives.
Which character in this novel is most like you and why?
Oooh, hopefully none! 😊 Although I’m now fortunate to have three children, I did experience fertility issues so I was able to write from personal experience about how it may feel for Marie not to be able to conceive. I also went to therapy ‘in character’ (a psychotherapy service called Characters on the Couch) to delve deep into Marie’s manipulative mind.
Do you have any specific writing rituals?
I’m definitely a morning person. Prior to lockdown, I would keep to school hours. Since then, it has been harder with home-schooling, but I try to write as much as I can when I first wake up. I usually write at home, but prior to lockdown I was happy to write anywhere: on trains, in cafes, on planes.
What message do you hope readers take away from The Last Wife?
That the grass isn’t necessarily greener.
What can you tell us about your next project?
That I’ve been to ‘therapy’ again for this protagonist! It’s another manipulative main character within an international setting.
Thank you so much for all your kind support.
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