My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

The moment I read the blurb about Alice Feeney’s newest novel, My Husband’s Wife, I was hooked! A woman comes home from her run, and her house key doesn’t seem to fit. Then another woman opens the door, claiming to be her — she is her husband’s wife.

Can you believe that? I was so intrigued that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. So I did — I read it. And here are my thoughts.

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

The book started as the blurb promised, with a woman coming home from her run and encountering another woman claiming to be her. So far, so good. But then the story took endless twists and turns, and I hated it. I even considered giving up and stopping reading, but despite not liking the story, I wanted to know what was going on. You might say I needed some closure. In that sense, Alice Feeney did a great job, because even though I was very irritated by this book, I kept on reading.

Why I didn’t like this book. At all.

So, here’s the thing: Every character in My Husband’s Wife is a so-called unreliable narrator. So as a reader you can never catch your breath because nothing is certain. Nobody is what they seem, and they all have secrets they like to allude to, but don’t say out loud. Another thing I found very annoying.

If you’ve got a secret to tell, just come out with it, I beg of you! Don’t just lead me up the garden path, tease me with secrets, and then not tell me!

Another thing that didn’t endear this book to me is the fact that the perspective changes with each chapter. I never like this anyway, but sometimes it works. However, I did not like it in this book. For one thing, characters whom I thought were ‘minor’ characters then got their own chapter! I had a hard time warming up to these minor characters. But okay, I tried to get interested in their point of view, only to discover they too had secrets and weren’t who they said they were.

Summing up

I think my mistake was that I’m not suitable for Alice Feeney’s books. I think her books are very creative, with lots of twists and turns, and if you enjoy that kind of story, this is probably a great book. But this book reminded me of Harlan Coben’s books. The first three of his books I liked, then I started to see a pattern. There’s always a big twist. Always. And even though you know it’s coming, it’s the kind of twist you have no way of knowing as a reader. I find that annoying. At least provide your readers with the information to see the twist coming!

So, anyway, I think My Husband’s Wife is a well-written and excellent book for anyone who enjoys unreliable narrators, being kept in the dark, and plot twists so numerous that it feels like an emotional roller coaster.

Where to find My Husband’s Wife

You can buy a copy of this book at your local bookstore and Amazon of course.

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What are your thoughts about My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney?