A review by abercrombie1986
Two Dead Wives by Adele Parks

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 

This one really had my guessing through the first half.  A woman home again for medical treatment and a dead bigamist wife.  How could these two tales possibly be related.  I did figure about a good bit of the ending, but still enjoyed the journey.  It’s been long enough that the COVID setting didn’t touch on any nerves.  While this is listed as book 2 in the DCI Clements series, I read the first book and didn’t make the connection until I read the author’s note at the end.  So this can easily be read as a stand alone book.

While I am not sure I liked any of the characters (nor did I dislike them), I was immediately drawn into the story.  Seeing both husbands and the boys reeling from the revelation their wife was a bigamist and also murdered.  I was pleased I did get some insight into why the wife would choose a second husband.

I like how the two stories came together and that the author took such care at the start.  No loose strings were left dangling and while I had to suspend reality a little in this one, I enjoyed the read.