Library's review
That alone is enough to raise some eyebrows in Ashton's Melbourne, Australia, circle. But Heather is also younger than either of Stephen's daughters, both of whom have some emotional issues that are interfering in their ability to process what's happening to their family. Things culminate at Stephen and Heather's wedding, to which Pam (freshly divorced by Stephen) is invited and who is on the spot when things go terribly wrong.
The book opens with the climactic scene at the wedding, although because the incident happens "off stage" in the sacristy no one in the chapel knows exactly what happened. The book shifts from that event, seen from the point of view of an unknown woman guest, to the events that led up to the fateful day. As the dark side of one character starts to emerge, the other characters vacillate between believing what they are seeing and doubting their interpretations of events. It was quite clear to me that the baddie was in fact bad, but I can't tell if it was a deliberate authorial choice to have the audience clued in before the characters. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story, but I'd love to know for sure.
I saw a blurb that referred to the genre this book belongs to as "domestic suspense" and that seems like a good descriptor. That's not necessarily a category I vibe with, but I did enjoy this book so maybe I like the genre more than I think. I'd read another book by Hepworth if I find one available at the library.
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"Sally Hepworth, the newest breakout star of domestic suspense delivers her next twisty novel about family secrets and lies in The Younger Wife. Stephen Aston is getting married again. The only problem is, he's still married to his first wife, even though she is in a care facility for dementia. But he'll take care of that easily, by divorcing her--even if his adult daughters protest. Tully and Rachel Aston look upon Heather as nothing but an interloper. Heather is the same age as Rachel and even younger than Tully. Clearly she's a golddigger and after their father's money. Heather has secrets that she's keeping close, and reasons of her own for wanting to marry Stephen. With their mother unable to speak for herself, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family's secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is. But will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses...in all of them?"--… (more)