Book Review: The Wife Before by Natasha Presten
Ah, The Wife Before! I picked this one up, intrigued by the promises of suspense and betrayal nestled within its pages and the thrilling premise of a love tainted by tragedy. Natasha Presten captivates us with the character-driven tale of Samira Wilder and the shadow of her fiancé, Roland Graham, whose past is steeped in controversy after the untimely death of his first wife. Honestly, I wanted to dive into the murky depths of their relationship, but alas, the waters were murkier than I anticipated.
From the get-go, I found myself grappling with the emotional weight of the characters—or rather, the lack of it. Samira, our primary narrator, strikes me as self-serving, floating through life without much substance. What’s even more annoying is that she’s 28 and still living off her brother’s dime! Meanwhile, Roland feels like a walking contradiction, sketched out with such haphazard detail that it’s hard to latch onto him as either the charming beau or the potential villain he’s meant to be. Melanie, Roland’s late wife, shares her side of the story through journal entries that feel more polished than genuine. It’s a classic case of an unreliable narrator, yet I couldn’t help but wish for a bit more authenticity in her words.
However, I must nod to the prologue, which sets a deliciously eerie tone. I found myself drawn in, eagerly anticipating twists and turns that never fully materialized as the story unfolded. The prologue promised a mystery, but it felt like a balloon that never inflated; the incidents hinted at remained frustratingly vague throughout the novel.
Structurally, the book operates on certain tropes—the "dead wife’s journals" and the ever-maddening unreliable narrative—but those tropes can work wonders when utilized effectively. Unfortunately, here they felt disjointed and flimsy. For instance, Melanie’s journal reads more like an author’s notes than candid diary entries, robbing them of their natural spontaneity. Additionally, Samira’s dialogue felt repetitive, as if the characters were stuck in a loop, echoing questions and statements multiple times in the span of just a few lines.
On a brighter note, I did enjoy the audiobook experience, narrated by Tracey Conyer Lee. Despite her slowing down the pace to almost a crawl at times—seriously, I often cranked it up to 2x speed—I found her distinct voice for the characters quite engaging. Yet, I was left perplexed as both Samira and Melanie began to blur together in her delivery. A distinct voice for each could have added much-needed clarity amidst the already convoluted character dynamics.
The Wife Before offered more frustration than fascination for me, with characters that annoyed rather than intrigued. If you’re hunting for twists and revelations, you might find this garden already tilled. It’s a story filled with potential but largely underwhelming execution.
In short, I can only recommend this to die-hard domestic thriller fans who enjoy a slow burn—just be prepared for a lack of true substance. As for me? I’m left wishing for a five-star adult fiction gem to come my way, because this one definitely felt like a missed opportunity.
Overall, two stars for a story that left me scratching my head more than grinding my teeth. Here’s hoping for brighter literary days ahead!
Connect with me through:
[My Blog] | [The StoryGraph] | [Facebook] | [Twitter]
Discover more about The Wife Before on GoodReads >>
